Activities with children that don’t break the bank can be a struggle for a Part-Time-Dad, as a PTD I am sometimes over keen to please.

However I have learnt it’s not about the money I spend on my children that makes for a great day but rather the quality of time spent with each of my children.

Quality time with my 13 year old son Christian

What to do with a young man who given the chance would be happy to play video games all day?
Easy I don’t own any video games, so what can I do?
With Wellington weather being cold, wet and windy what a better way to enjoy some quality time with my boy, than going fishing. ... read more >>

A new look at a traditional family relationship

The first American Father's Day celebration was held on July 5, 1908, in Fairmont, West Virginia, only about 20 miles from the location of the first Mother’s Day celebration in Grafton. The event was the emotionally charged response to a mine explosion that had occurred one year earlier, killing more than 300 men, most of whom were fathers. Hundreds of grieving widows were left behind, along with more than 1,000 fatherless children.

Mrs. Grace Clayton, a woman who had lost two children and understood family loss well, was moved to establish an annual holiday to honor and remember all fathers for their great contributions to their families. But while this Father’s Day observance is mentioned in at least one historical document, it has all but been forgotten, and it is a separate event that occurred one year later that is most often referred to as the “beginning of Father’s Day.”

At a Mother’s Day celebration almost a year later, a young woman named Sonora Louise Smart was thinking about the sacrifices her father had made while shouldering the responsibility for his six children after his wife had died eleven years earlier. ... read more >>

In celebration of Father's Day, the filmmakers behind the "Evolution of Dad" documentary project filmed close to 150 people around New York City, talking about their dads. The interviews are touching, funny and sometimes heartbreaking. We hope you enjoy the videos and share them with those you care about this Father's Day.

Happy Father's Day to all the father's celebrating their special day this coming Sunday.

Don't forget to call your father

Warm Regards

- Eric

We recently found out about a reminder service for gits called SomeoneSpoilMe.com. A good idea? Certainly. The site is well put together and features daily gift ideas as well as a reminder service (although the navigation is a bit cumbersome and it seems there are still a few bugs left to tidy up). The site design and imagery is clearly targetting women - which is fine of course. Unfortunately Father's Day (in the US) seems to bring out the worst in stereotypes and generalisations about what fathers like and someonespoilme.com is no different in their approach. So they end up being another site that strengthens the image of fathers as the "dim-witted parent who is really only good for bringing home the bacon (see below)".

Example of the day from someonespoilme.com:

"Cheers to Dad! (Posted Monday 9 June 08) ... read more >>

“One time my kids wanted to surprise me with a good breakfast in bed on Father's Day. They put a cot in the kitchen.”

While fatherhood is a serious business, you cannot deny the fun and craziness involved in it for both the dad and the kids. A father holds a magnificent place on this planet.

A father ocean catfish is a true example of a devoted father. He carries the eggs of his young is his mouth until they are ready to be born, which may take up to several weeks. During that time, he cannot eat a thing!

Penguins are another good example; Father penguins keep on their feet in arctic temperatures for sixty days or more to protect his eggs. He hides them on top of his feet, hiding them with feathered flap. Like the catfish, he cannot eat for the duration of his guard of the eggs. ... read more >>

A Happy Mother's Day to all the women that made us boys and to the women that turned us into father's

And a very special Mother's Day to all the first time mother's, hope you enjoy your special day, that includes our partners.

Warm Regards

- The DIYFather team

Have a safe and happy Easter

From the DIYFather Team

A Podcast hosted on International Dad featuring show hosts Scott Lancaster and co-hosts Eric Mooij and Stefan Korn from DIYFather.com.

Today International Dad team reflect on Christmas 07.


Blow-up castles, Christmas pyramids and new year’s resolutions. In this week’s podcast Scott, Eric and Stefan muse over the ghost of Christmas past and reflect on the festive season 2007/2008.

I came across this article which is a reality for a lot of fathers, who have children but cant have access to them. When we first started DIYfather.com it was thought that it was a site for disgruntled fathers of which we know it isn’t, but unfortunately there are a lot of fathers out there who want to but cant see their children.

What we need to take from this from a fathers point of view, is don’t give up if you think you are on the other side of the law, make sure your kids know that you are there for them, even when you cant be there.

Remember it doesn’t just happen to your run of the mill fathers but also to celebrity dads just like it did for Sir Bob Geldof, if fathers are so desperate then why aren’t they being heard. If he can do something about poverty then why cant he do something about absent fathers. ... read more >>

Over the New Years break I have meet up with a few fathers that have reminded me of why I am involved with DIYFather.

I had a great conversation with a Father who will be a Stay at Home for 6 months of the year, an older father who has a young child and his priorities are with his family he is rough around the edges a mans-man however he is passionate about his life as a father.
I would like to acknowledge this father and all fathers like him for setting themselves up to be able to take the time off for their families.

Another father I spoke to, like myself does not have his children and he finds it hard and unfulfilled as a father. Christmas is a tough time for Fathers that don’t have their children it can be a deeply lonely time for some fathers, as it was for this father. ... read more >>