Survey - daddy day care service

A letter from Dean Severinsen:

I am investigating the feasibility of setting up a home based care service, where the main educators are Dads. Can you please help me to help kids and Dads by completing a brief on line survey. The survey comprises only 10 mostly multi choice type questions, and will only take a couple of minutes.

Males make up less than 2% of qualified early childhood education teachers. My goal in setting up a “daddy day care” service is to simply let kids hang out with Dads, and also to let Dads hang out with kids. I do not feel that the current service providers in this area do enough to encourage men to become home based educators.

Please click here to start the survey.

Why we have children

By Jeff Smith

American writer Dr. Timothy Dalrymple has written a terrifying, yet uplifting, story depicting how a panic-filled ride to an emergency room with his daughter in seizure crystallized for him the true joy abd meaning that she had brought his life. Read his tremendous story - dads of any country with children, and especially those with daughters, will have a tough time reading this story without shedding a tear or two.

Dr. Timothy Dalrymple: Why We Have Children
In debates on abortion, fertility rates, and parenting styles, we should ask: Why do we have children in the first place?Why We

I hate the memory of it. I hate it.

I hate how stiff my daughter's body felt in my arms that night. I hate how vacant and soulless her face had become, unmoving save for the veined whites of her eyes as the irises fluttered up under the skull.

Help a fellow dad - abortion and the rights of a father?

We've had a pretty tricky enquiry from a dad in the US about a father's rights when it comes to abortion. If you know anything about this, would be great if you could comment on this post. Here's the background:

I have been supportive of the decision of my girlfriend having an abortion. Yes she made the decision and all I could do was try to do my best to be there for her, trying to be the strong one. I was devastated about it because I didn't want it to happen. She and I did talk about it. But rather than lose both of them, I chose to lose my child and have the mother still in my life. There are a lot of emotions dealing with the loss of a child for both the mother and the father.

Before I was in a relationship, I was in a situation where I wanted the woman to have an abortion. She did not.

Genetic Testing for Unborn Children Study of Men's Attitudes

The University of Auckland, Dept of Psychology is looking for participants in a study about men's opinions on issues relating to pre-birth genetic testing. This research aims to investigate men's opinions regarding prebirth testing for genetic risk for diseases and disabilities. Pregnancy-related issues are often stereotypically presented as issues for women only. In this study, we would like to empower men by giving them the opportunity of express their views on a topic which undeniably requires their involvement.

To learn more about the study and to take part, please send a blank email to prenatal@auckland.ac.nz.

Researcher:
Cecile Muller, Department of Psychology, The University of Auckland (Tamaki Campus), Private Bag 92019, Auckland.

Supervisor:

Media request - The Sun (newspaper) is looking for teen dads

We just reveiced the following request from The Sun newspaper (UK) - please contact Ellie directly if you are interested:

Are you a teen dad or a dad who became a parent as a young teen, at 13, 14, 15 years old? I'm writing a feature for The Sun newspaper on the experiences of men who became dads in their early teens - how was it being a dad so young, the story of how it all happened and how your life has changed since your child's birth.

You would have to be identified and willing to be photographed and you would also be paid. Please contact Ellie White (ellie.white@the-sun.co.uk) ASAP if you think you can help.

DIYFather.com publishes first book "Call Me Dad!"

Yes, yes yes ... the rumours are true ... we wrote a book last year and it got published last week. This week it is available at most high street stores in New Zealand and it will hit the shelves in the UK next month. Major online book retailers have also started selling it ... so "the word" is out! Have a look at our dedicated page for "Call Me Dad!" to find out more and check out the official media release.

Meanwhile we had a bit of a reflection on the writing process ... like the high lights and low lights (and everything in-between) of writing a book in this podcast. Despite the struggles and difficulties of pulling it all off in time and to everyone's liking, a sense of achievement remains and everyone at DIYFather.com is really excited about getting the book out. So a big THANK YOU to all the contributors and everyone who helped with the book! A special thanks of course goes to our children, partners and families for being there for us (and sticking with us) throughout the whole process

Thanks everyone reading this for spreading "the word" ... and if you live in Wellington, come along to our LAUNCH PARTY for drinks and nibbles on February 18th, 6pm at Dymocks on Lampton Quay.

Scott, Eric and Stefan

Questions to DIYFather - father involvement

Jennifer asked the following question - sorry Jennifer your email address didn't work so we posted your question and answer here:

"I am looking for books to get a dad on why he feels lost with his children? Why he always thinks the kids pick everyone else but him? Just feeling neglected because of how the mother was overprotective with the kids. Can you please direct me? Thank you!"

DIYFather:

Perhaps you'd like to try the books by Steve Biddulph "Raising Boys" or "Manhood". Hope this helps.

-DIYFather

Question to DIYFather - safety precautions for Halloween?

What’s everyone doing for safety precautions for Halloween? My husband came across an article (i-newswire.com) with some info about background checking neighbors. I thought that may be a little overboard but it had some other good suggestions for some precautions I haven’t thought about. Last year my youngest son came down with a massive fever after Halloween. I almost thought about just taking the kids to our church’s fall festival this year instead of door-to-door to prevent that from happening again. I don’t know yet. What’s your advice? Am I over-reacted or just being a concerned mom?

- Shelly Haggerty

Question to DIYFather: question about my ex, his present wife, and how my ex treats our daughter who is 25

My ex husband and I divorced over 10 years ago. He remarried 10 months later. I lost my home because I was unable to pay for it do to my lack of education and skills. He continued to prosper his business and lives on a golf course home, has a ministry, and travels. His wife has undermined the relationship with his daughter where her family has priority over our daugther. He was abusive to me and abandoning during our marriage. The relationship with his wife supersedes the one with his daughter. He has a
hands off with her, and will not help her out financially, even though he is well off. My daughter is very capable and responsible, but could have used
some assistance in acquiring her own home as well as for other issues. My ex will not even speak to me, even if it has to do with our daughter. Our daughter is our only child. His present wife cannot have children. I feel that his priorities are misplaced greatly and it continues to place a wound on our daughter.

Question to DIYFather: Long Distance Parenting?

I have moved away from my family for work. I could have stayed put and worked in a factory but my wife has sacrificed a lot for me to study over four years to work in the television industry. My wife also wants to work in tv/film. Towards the end of my study an opportunity to adopt a beautiful girl came and we decided to go along with the adoption. Where I used to live had no work opportunities. I would gladly leave my job to be with my daughter but my wife wants me to get her into the industry as well OR ELSE (she reckons). Either way I would have less time with my daughter.

My question is how can I build and maintain a strong father-daughter relationship from a long distance. I am 4 hours drive away and I go home every chance I get (depending on finances). It is bad enough that she may feel rejected from her birth parents let alone her adopted father living away from her (she is two years old).

Am I over-reacting?

-Tom