I had a major reality check this last week. Maybe reality check is not the correct term for it – perhaps mortality check is. Something happened to me that changed my life in the space of a single second. I’m writing this propped up in a reclining lawn chair in my living room, with my…
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…
As we close out 2009, I’ve been looking back at the year’s posts and the traffic and link love I’ve received from other blogs, with an eye toward pointing you to the most read articles here. I was pleasantly surprised to notice that according to my WordPress statistics plugin, Natural Papa has now received over…
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)…
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…
All of us need to have something in our life that doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with making a living, or making our family happy, or meeting someone else’s needs. When we don’t fill ourselves up by pursuing our passions, we get emptied out and have nothing to give to others. I’ve been doing…
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…
Sometimes, parenting skills can be learned from the most unlikely places. Like business, for example. I’ve had my own business, managed businesses for others, and worked for a number of employers, both good and bad. The following positive parenting tips all come from lessons I’ve learned during those experiences, and I hope you’ll find something…
10 Questions for Homebirth Dads with Adam Pedley Adam Pedley is a father of 2 boys and is in the business of helping others. One of the support groups he runs with his wife is Home Birth My Birth. 1. Why did you choose homebirth? Well, I didn’t choose homebirth, my wife did. My wife…
[I've had a great bunch of fathers answer these questions about dads and homebirth already, but I haven't taken the time to answer them myself until now. Here's my contribution to the 10 Questions series.] 10 Questions for Homebirth Dads with Derek Markham 1. Why did you choose homebirth? My wife’s mother had homebirths with…
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.
