“Family is not an important thing; it is everything,” are the wise words of Michael J. Fox. You must put family first and be there for them. It will pay off in the end.

This weekend, Squish met her Australian cousins for the first time, and the experience was as fun as we had anticipated, for babies and parents alike. To set the scene, let me tell you a bit about my family.

Towards the end of July, we celebrate World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. This year (2024), the theme is loneliness and references Psalm 71:9 — “Do not cast me off in my old age”.  

Witnessing my father’s interaction with my own kids prompted me to reflect on my relationship with him. It is possible that my book, "Single Dad", is a way of exploring what I missed out on.

In 2019, Paak released "Make It Better", featuring Smokey Robinson — a sweet, phat track that contains much wisdom for us married men.

Disagreements and tension with our children’s mother can’t help but spill over into how we relate to our kids. Our words and actions (or our inaction) can have powerful consequences for our families and children.

"‘Why Can't We Hate Men?’ asks a headline in 'The Washington Post'. A trendy hashtag is #KillAllMen. Books are sold titled ‘I Hate Men’, ‘No Good Men’, and ‘Are Men Necessary’? How did an ideology arise that condemns masculinity as dangerous and destructive?”

The other day I woke up to my daughters printing out digital photos and carefully compiling them into a photo album. I was inspired! The best part was that we enjoyed some precious time travelling down memory lane, reminiscing together.

It happened so quickly, I barely noticed the change. But all of a sudden, our little bundle of joy needs to be disciplined. Every moment of the day, she is finding ways to test boundaries and assert her independence.

Dining out can be stressful rather than relaxing when you have rambunctious toddlers. Here are some tips to make it a more pleasant experience for everyone, fellow patrons and waitstaff included:

Dads4Kids founders Warwick and Alison Marsh have massive hearts. As their eldest son, I’ve witnessed first-hand their Phar Lap-sized tickers for Australia and the World. It’s right there in the hand-drawn blue heart of the Dads4Kids logo.

For the last two weeks, Squish has been surrounded by all four of her grandparents. It was the first time Squish had met my mum and dad, who flew in to the United States all the way from Australia.

As we live in an urban area, it takes some planning and effort to facilitate encounters with animals and experiences of plant life. What nature-themed adventures have you found in your area?

The "Unsung Hero" movie is a true story about a courageous Australian father who eventually found the courage to love his family unconditionally. That is why I want to encourage you, one more time, to go and see it. You will never regret the experience.

3 June is World Bicycle Day. Bicycling is fun, it’s economical, and it’s healthy. It’s an ecological pastime the whole family can enjoy. And if we pay attention, riding a bicycle can provide some lessons for everyday life.

Unsung Hero releases in Australian cinemas on Thursday, 30 May 2024. Go and see this exceptional, family-friendly uplifting movie!

As a husband and father, I couldn’t agree more with Harrison Butker — whether on leadership, cultural chaos, masculinity, responsibility, and men and women’s complementary roles as husbands and wives.

Who are your marriage role models? The number of couples choosing to get married is plummeting. Good, solid marriages are less common than they used to be. Maybe YOUR marriage has been a role model for others – or maybe you would like to be.

When I speak to groups of dads, I often bring up generational family issues to try to help them gain a better perspective on their own challenges. I ask a series of questions to bring these issues regarding their fathering heritage to the surface.

Even if nurturing wasn’t a strength for your dad, you can learn from others, and pass it on to your kids. Men do feel, and we do nurture. Let’s just do it… now! With our arms, words, eyes and ears, we can give our kids the physical and verbal affirmation that lasts a lifetime.