“The growth that comes between a father and a son is a two-way street; it makes a life complete.” This is a line from my poem “Children That Belong to Other Men”. Such is the reflection of “Celebrating Men and Boys”, the 2025 theme for International Men’s Day (19 November).

For three decades, Don Mathis has penned a birthday poem for his son. Charlie Mathis turns 32 on 1 February. Written with love, from Dad.

The theme for the 2024 International Men’s Day is ‘Positive Male Role Models.’ It is a time to celebrate good examples of men and to raise awareness of men’s well-being.

For Father's Day, a poem about clouds and the memory of one's father.

Fond memories of childhood and beyond, encapsulated in a little red wagon.

A sobering poem on the injustice of the family law system, which can never return time with his child that has been stolen from a father.

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.

An elegant tribute to motherhood.

I don’t think God’s plan stipulated that children were supposed to live apart from their fathers – but this is what’s happening all over the world. So, I wrote a poem that I hope will raise awareness of this injustice, that I hope will make a change.

International Children’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in December. Children around the world are entitled to be children, to have food, water, and shelter.

The eleventh day of the eleventh month is a solemn day around the world. Many people call it Remembrance Day. The Daily Dad remembers members of the military with gratitude.

Blessed is the father who spends time with his child, for he shall reap a garden of remembrances. Blessed is the father who gives consolation to his child’s minor misfortunes, for he will be called on for great things in life. Blessed is the father who is proud of his child, for he shall have a child who is proud of his father. Blessed is the father who imparts love, for ...

“Can you help me?” These were the words I first heard when I picked up the phone. “I can’t see my kids and I don’t know what to do. I feel like giving up and I am thinking about killing myself to shut off the pain.” The matter-of-fact way he said these words told me that this was no veiled threat, but a carefully considered option. Men don’t usually tell you ...

What is a Dad? The poem below says it all: A dad is someone who wants to catch you before you fall but instead picks you up, brushes you off, and lets you try again. A dad is someone who wants to keep you from making mistakes but instead lets you find your own way, even though his heart breaks in silence when you get hurt. A dad is someone who ...

Cup in hand, deep in thought, It’s like this every day. And it twists my heart I know But there is no other way. I dream of you, there’s nothing else, No picture I can see. To see your smiles and how you’ve grown Or how much of you is me. To hold you close, to hear you laugh, To put you to bed at night. To tell you things a ...

While attending ANZAC Day dawn ceremonies just now, I was reminded of how little people understand the unknown/absent/single father from the poems that are read on ANZAC Day. I have re-written the originals slightly below, for those who are battling and those who have gone before, and for those who would like to understand the plight of the “unknown father” who daily still lays down his life. For The Fallen Laurence ...