Techno Dad

Posted by Jeremy Adam Smith

I liked this: "10 Signs that Parenting is More Equal than it Used to be."

And I thought this was interesting:

Achieving a work-family balance doesn’t seem as foreign to fathers these days as it once did. Technology advances are giving fathers the freedom to focus on their family life while maintaining their workplace responsibilities…or so it seems.

Would You Know Your Kids' Answer To This Question?

Recently, the Pew Research Center asked 18 – 25 year olds what their most important goal was in life. 81% answered “to get rich.” Wonder where they get that value from?

It might not be a bad time to ask your kids what their most important goal in life is. Based on the answer, you can help “direct” them towards creating a life that’s meaningful. As the awful news in the world around us mounts, we can help by parenting kids to be loving, kind, and responsible citizens. And if we can, it might not be too late.

Warmly,

Mark Brandenburg

Mark Brandenburg MA, CPCC
mark@eqnow.org
www.markbrandenburg.com
www.eqnow.org
Phone (+1) 651-766-9976
"Helping Men Succeed"

New Research on Mental Health Issues of Separated Men

We just got the following study about mental health issues of separated fathers. Makes for interesting reading if you like academic papers.

Abstract
Mental health disorders are highest among adults who are separated and divorced, with 23% of men in this group reporting a mental illness. Separated men are more likely to commit suicide compared with married men. In Australia, there are over 53,100 divorces per annum, involving almost 50,000 children. To date, little research has been conducted on the mental health of separated men who are fathers.

Aims: Using a pilot qualitative study, parenting and health issues reported by 23 south-east Queensland separated fathers were examined. The pilot study informed the selection of correlates and measurements for the quantitative study. The aims of the subsequent quantitative study of 80 Queensland separated fathers were to examine:

Discover what a great Dad you are!

What every New Dad needs to know and then discover what a great Dad you are!

And what every New Mom needs to know – or she’ll make it hard for you to be the Dad you want to be!

It’s been a slow change – who’s to blame – no-one really – we (Midwives, Obstetricians, Health Professionals) were just too busy looking after Mom and Baby – that sometimes we just didn’t see the Dad sitting in the background – unsure of what he could do.

Of course there were Dads who always promised themselves – that they didn’t care if it was not a blokey thing to do – they were going to change nappies/diaper, they were going to bath their baby, they were going to sing to their baby – they were going to tell their baby great stories about great footballers, or great men they knew – they were going to be a part of their baby’s life – and they couldn’t wait to get started – from the minute they could – they would be there – helping Mom in every and any way they could – they were going to have a special relationship with their child. Maybe they felt that their own Dad never cared – but whatever the reason – they were going to make sure that their baby got to know them – in a loving way – in a way that would be special to both of them – for the rest of their lives. These fathers were few and far between – but nowadays – things are different!