You’ve come a long way, daddy.
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One of the most positive signs that the roles of men are changing, for the better, is in the many classes and conferences devoted to fatherhood. This Sunday, January 25, in New York City, the renowned, non-profit community center the 92nd Street Y will host their annual parenting conference — and the focus is exclusively on dads.
The panel of speakers is impressive and includes: Michael Thompson, author of The New York Times best-selling book, Raising Cain: The Emotional Lives of Boys; Paul Raeburn, author of the book Do Fathers Matter? What Science Is Telling Us About the Parent We’ve Overlooked; Michael Kimmel, renowned sociologist and author of the book,Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men; Neil Blumenthal, Warby Parker co-founder (and working dad); and Matt Schneider, at-home dad, and co-founder of NYC Dads Group, a community of active dads in New York City.
The conference kicks off with a keynote address by Michael Thompson, and includes a panel on parenting partnerships, featuring an at-home dad/working mom; a same-sex couple; and a working dad/at-home mom.
Fathers will also meet to discuss how to juggle work, family and play, and to consider how scientific research is changing the conversation about fatherhood as it uncovers new understanding of the attachment between fathers and their children.
Sally Tannen, director of 92Y’s Parenting Center, sees the conference as a unique opportunity for dads. “Historically, mothers have received the lion’s share of support from the community, but this new generation of fathers is a highly involved one.”
For those who cannot attend in person, the conference will be broadcast live by livecast at www.92y.org/livecast
Photo courtesy of author.