New born

Dads, show your kids that Mums can also be fun. We dads always think that we’re being very loving and considerate when we plan activities during the weekend that will take the kids away from the house and allow the moms time to rest. First of all, This Dad Can would like to say respect for the effort. Being insulated from the chaos that moms traditionally commonly live with on a daily basis, it’s understandable that we think it’s a gift that we can bestow on our partners. Moms truly do appreciate these moments of… Read More »Dads, show your kids that Mums can also be fun – Guest Blog Post

Art Therapy. Art therapy. As a male trainee, I have dealt with the criticisms and comments first-hand regarding its worth. In a field dominated by women, not only attending therapy but also becoming a practitioner can be seen as ‘feminine’. Coming from a group of mates working as prison officers and salesmen, I know this better than most. These thoughts are usually those of people denying their own need for such therapy; a projection of their own internal defences. Although a lot has been done in promoting mental health awareness, it seems there is still… Read More »Art Therapy – Guest Blog Post

Why I don’t want my son to have a better childhood than I did. How many parents say ‘I want my child to have a better upbringing than I did’? It’s often considered to be one of the most basic desires for a new parent. It’s understandable, isn’t it? You want your baby to have the best life possible. And for so many, that means wanting them to have a better childhood than you did. A better house, better clothes, better toys, more holidays – whatever it may be, so many parents want their children… Read More »Why I don’t want my son to have a better childhood than I did – Guest Blog Post

Trying to be a soldier and a parent – how I am trying to be a better squaredawaydad. Work-life balance I have experienced 20 years of military service and 12 years of parenthood. I have deployed on numerous operations overseas and experienced long periods of separation from my family. I love being a soldier and I have enjoyed every minute of it so far. I also love being a parent, but it took me a while to realise that I needed to invest more in this side of my life. I am sure my story… Read More »Trying to be a soldier and a parent – Guest Blog Post

Writing a book about fathers showed me why I need my own dad. I’ve been thinking a lot about dads recently. My book, Inside Fatherhood, has just been published to mark what many regard as 80 years of Father’s Day this June and I’ve spent the last year talking to a group of men about their own unique experiences of fatherhood. These dispatches from the frontline of modern parenting were intended to give a voice to fathers. After all, 89 per cent of British men aged 70 years or older have fathered a child or… Read More »Writing a book about fathers showed me why I need my own dad – Guest Blog Post

How To Be A Thriving Dad In A World Of Zombies. “My father didn’t tell me how to live. He lived and let me watch him do it.” – Clarence Budington Kelland My Story So, there I was, a mentally stretched rubber band about to snap, confined to a small room that smelled of Latex and rubbing alcohol, waiting for the doctor to release the emotional tension. I could tell he saw the desperation in my face like it was a rat in the corner of my eye. Fear shot from my pores like bullets… Read More »How to be a Thriving Dad in a World of Zombies – Guest Blog Post

I spy with my little eye… Phonics Fun. ‘I spy with my little eye… something beginning with s!’ ‘Sky?’ ‘No.’ ‘Sun?’ ‘No.’ ‘Sock?’ ‘No.’ ‘Sunglasses?’ ‘No.’ ‘Oooh sweetheart you have really been thinking hard… I wonder what it could be!’ ‘You’ll never guess mummy, you’ll never guess!’ ‘Ok then tell me… you clever little sausage, you!’ ‘Car!!’ ‘Sorry?’ ‘Car mummy car!’ ‘Oh… you’re right sweetheart, I never would have guessed.’ Does this sound familiar? I spy is almost a right of passage through childhood isn’t it. A well-loved classic but my word those early days… Read More »I spy with my little eye… Phonics Fun – Guest Blog Post

Stay at home dad. So, this is it. My time to take over the reins and become the main carer to my daughter is nearly upon me. My wife returns to full time teaching in a few days’ time after nine months of maternity leave. I took the decision to resign from my job a few months back after we did some research into possible childcare options and discovered that a nursery place would, for our 8-month-old in central London, be more than our rent! This would leave us with only a little bit of… Read More »Stay at home dad – Guest Blog Post

Power of positivity for children. Now life is difficult, we all have our own issues and problems which mount up and suck happiness/positivity out of us. Bills, work, health, cars, friends, partners and yes even our children. These are sources of friction, day after day, week after week they can grind us down. We can take frustrations out on those close to us. I remember a time quite vividly where my boy Ethan was following me around the house, after a long day in the office, he was excited about a toy he wanted. I… Read More »Power of positivity for children – Guest Blog Post

My Open Letter To All Dads Who Are Suffering. A lot of people ask me if I could give dads out there some advice, what would I say? What advice would I give? Well, what if I could talk to all dads at once. So here goes. Dear suffering Dad, First of all, I would like to say well done for coming this far to even have found my blog post. You have made the first few steps. The first few steps are hardest, trust me I’ve been there. I can’t tell you how you are… Read More »My Open Letter To All Dads Who Are Suffering – Guest Blog Post