Friday, July 3

TOP FOUR

Helping Make Society More Respectful And Equitable – Nurturing Dads Raise Emotionally Intelligent Kids
PARENTING, TOP FOUR

Helping Make Society More Respectful And Equitable – Nurturing Dads Raise Emotionally Intelligent Kids

When my oldest son, now nearly 13, was born in July of 2008, I thought I could easily balance my career and my desire to be far more engaged at home than my father and his generation were. I was wrong. Almost immediately, I noticed how social policies, schools and health care systems all make it difficult for dads to be highly involved and engaged at home. Contradictory expectations about work and family life abound. As a fatherhood researcher with four kids of my own, I am convinced that fathers are transformative figures for children, families and communities. But a man’s mere presence, paycheck and willingness to punish misbehaving children is not nearly enough. Many of the benefits of fathering for children come from dads being nurturing, loving and engaged in all aspects of p...
How To Win A Man’s Heart Through Text Messages
LOVE, TOP FOUR

How To Win A Man’s Heart Through Text Messages

Do you want to know how to win a man's heart through text messages? It sounds like the ultimate plan doesn't it? You send him a cute message and he is surely going to fall for you. Or... it worked just fine the last time but this time, it will be much more effective because you are in a better situation. Get your boyfriend at a quiet place where he would probably be sitting or leaving for a while. Go there and just start chatting with him in an ordinary tone of voice. Maintain eye contact and try not to disturb the peace. You need to chat normally and casually without letting the conversation gets boring. It would be even better if you are not really interested in what he has to say. When you have successfully got your guy to listen and pay attention, then you can proceed to learn how ...
For LGBTQ Parents That Want To Help Schools Fight Stigma And Ignorance – Here Are 7 Tips To Help
PARENTING, TOP FOUR

For LGBTQ Parents That Want To Help Schools Fight Stigma And Ignorance – Here Are 7 Tips To Help

Many parents want to ensure that their kids are in classrooms where they and their families are respected and embraced. However, as a psychologist and researcher who has studied LGBTQ parents’ relationships with schools for over a decade, I have found that LGBTQ parents often have specific concerns when it comes to inclusion and acceptance. “[We have] always been very upfront that we are a family with two moms,” reported one parent in my research. “If the [school] was going to have an issue, we wanted to get the vibe early so we could find an alternative so our child didn’t have to suffer due to their closed-mindedness.” LGBTQ parents who live in less gay-friendly communities are more likely to describe feelings of mistreatment by their children’s schools. Such experiences may prompt par...
Be The Dad You Wish You Had
PARENTING, TOP FOUR

Be The Dad You Wish You Had

In my office are several items that reflect the great joy I find in my family; among them are two special items. One is a little figurine presented to me years ago on Father's Day by one of my children. It bears this message: "World's Greatest Dad." The second item, a plaque given by another of my children on another Father's Day, reads: "A father is someone you look up to no matter how tall you are." This gift brought a timely measure of encouragement, coming the year my oldest son surpassed me in height. (That's when I decided, subconsciously of course, to beat him in girth. And I did.) These particular paternal possessions are very important to me for a reason I want to share with you here. I know, all too well, that I am not the "world's greatest dad." Still, the hyperbole expresse...
90% Of Being A Successful Father Is Showing Up
PARENTING, TOP FOUR

90% Of Being A Successful Father Is Showing Up

Woody Allen says 90% of success in life is showing up. That's definitely true for being a good father. Your wife delivers the baby, but the ball is in your end of the court, half of the time, after that. I was terrified when I brought my infant son home from the hospital. I looked at the tiny, six pound, six-ounce, boy and nearly panicked when I realized he was going to be living with me. I didn't know how to feed him, change him, or get him to stop crying. I was afraid to hold him. I was the ultimate newbie dad. I wasn't confident I'd be able to fill a father's shoes. I was a full-time, financially strapped, married, twenty-year old college student when my son was born. I had no money, and only one way to get any. I worked five part-time jobs during the day and into the night to pay the...