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From the category archives:

Fatherhood

Giants of Men

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[This is a revised version of a post originally published on Jan. 11, 2009, one that I felt was worth revisiting.]
This weekend, I buried my grandfather. He was a giant among men, and will be sorely missed.
He lost his wife of 65 years to cancer over two years ago, and he still lived at home [...]

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Tiny Commitments: A Daily Dad Schedule

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Over the last couple of months, I’ve been noticing the tendency in myself to easily make time for a quick phone call or email during my day if it’s work related, but a reluctance to be able to fit in some of the more important things every day, such as really connecting with my wife [...]

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Advice to Myself as a Young Man

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This year I turned 40, and along with the realization that I’m now middle-aged (ack!) came some meditations on the life lessons I’ve learned so far (or not learned, as the case may be). As part of that process of introspection, I found myself wondering what I wish I had heard (and taken to heart) [...]

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When Does a Boy Become a Man? Our Missing Rites of Manhood

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At what point in a boy’s life does he become a man? How does his community, his father and uncles and grandpas, acknowledge that transition and begin the initiation and mentoring process of bringing him into the brotherhood of men?
With our daughters, we can acknowledge their ascent to young womanhood when they start their moon [...]

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Natural Fatherhood: My Credo

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I’ve had a number of dads (and moms) ask me why I choose to use the term ‘natural fatherhood’, as opposed to just fatherhood or parenting. One of the first things I bring up is the idea of natural parenting – a parenting style that fits closely with my personal ideals.
Everyone defines it a bit [...]

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New Dads, Dads-to-Be, Got a Question?

New dads, dads-to-be, got a question? on 12seconds.tv
I’d like to know what questions you have about being a dad, about fatherhood, about relationships, or parenting in general. Leave me a comment or email me at derek (at) naturalpapa.com.

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Get Some One on One Time with Your Kids

As a father, it’s important to get some time with your kids, outside the usual routine – a date with your kids, if you will. This video is a little glimpse at a recent daddy-daughter date with my 4 year old. First, she shows us her recent craft project, a doll she made with mama. [...]

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Providing for Your Family isn’t about Presents, it’s about Presence

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I’ve been following the works of Jonathan Fields for some time now, mostly for the great insights on being an entrepreneur that I found in reading his book Career Renegade. Today, however, he wrote about something close to my heart – fatherhood. More specifically, the trials of providing for our families, and how that can [...]

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Manly Skills of Fatherhood: Burping

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[I love the fact that there are sites about the art and skills of manliness on the web, but fatherhood doesn't usually make the cut (as far as being considered manly). We're going to try to change that.]
When I was growing up, I had a totally different perception of what being a man meant. [...]

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Engagement, Ritual, and Work (video)

How can we as dads (and moms) engage more with our partners and our children? What kind of rituals do we participate in, or create, as families, to honor the changing of the seasons and to celebrate each other? Knowing that kids mimic our actions, if we don’t work in a field that our children [...]

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