Join The Good Men Project and Salary.com in celebrating the fathers of the 21st century.
What makes a father? What are the qualities of a good father? What about a memorable father? How has your father shaped your notions of masculinity, and what kind of father you hope to be, or partner with in raising your own children? How is fatherhood changing? Here are some answers, letters full of love, reflections of pride, and portraits of fatherly devotion.
Geoffrey Philp and his wife had just received the best and most terrifying news of their lives: they were expecting a baby. How would he provide for his family as a struggling writer? More importantly, would he be able to be the father he wanted to be?
Robin Dodge and his spouse are a Queer couple who have faced infertility. Now they are hopeful: they are in the process of being licensed to foster-adopt.
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Between a difficult pregnancy, graduate school, and an internship in DC, Kate Ditzler’s husband exhibits what it means to be a true father and partner.
Lisa D’Annolfo Levey, a consultant in work/life balance, tells the story of world-traveling business consultant Roy Marden: the last person anyone thought would want to take care of a baby full-time.
Parents always tell parents-to-be the same thing, to which David L. Hill replies, “Did you all get together and rehearse this answer? Will you invite me to practice it with you once I’m a dad, and if so, will there be beer? I sort of figured my life would change, what with the baby and all. You want to be a little more specific?”
Don’t pity stay at home dad Jeff Bogle: he manages to get away a few times a year: the Grammys, sport fishing in Florida. But he’s still the guy in the airport clutching a teddy bear and missing his kids.
Brandon Ferdig reminds us that the utterly unself-conscious Dads of the world have much to teach us about dancing in front of other people, and other ways of being memorable.
The world has changed from the one that Ali Rizvi’s father was born into, in pre-partition Pakistan in the 1930s. Now that Ali is contemplating fatherhood, he says that and he will probably be the kind of man who says, “I love you,” to his children.
Dr. Christopher Kilmartin has done much to make his dad proud: he has a Ph.D and a job where people ask him to think. His dad died over 30 years ago, but Chris hasn’t stopped having conversations with him: about sports, life, and being a man.
Higher Unlearning launches a special series called ‘Father Figures’, featuring author Colwyn Burchall Jr, which looks at the bond and special moments between children and their fathers & father figures.
Shawn Maxam, of ‘For Shawnel,’ writes for his nephew on the crisis in Black fatherhood in America. “We need fathers, father-figures, coaches and mentors to be celebrated year round, but we also need them to be present every day.”
John Finch’s father committed suicide when he was only 11 years old, but it wasn’t until John had disappeared into alcohol and other self-destructive behaviors that he saw just how deep his “father wound” was.
Nick Florest knows what other people see when they go out with his friend’s baby daughter: two guys who don’t know what they’re doing. But Nick has known his friend since childhood, and what a good father he has become. Inspiring.
John Manchester’s father wrote about JFK and battled the Kennedys for the right to publish his book. “He was a man who once he decided to do something, did it, no matter the obstacles.”
When Mark Shriver was a little boy, his father ran for office, and Secret Service men became his new playmates. The son of the founder of the Peace Corps writes in this excerpt from his book, “A Good Man,” about political power from a unique perspective.
Carlos Foglia’s father passed away two months ago. He’s written a hilarious and touching portrait of his father, who taught him to be grateful for everything he was given.
We are partnering with Salary.com to ask the question “What’s a Dad Worth?” Check out their interactive polls and surveys as we approach Father’s Day. You can also head to Salary.com’s Dad Salary Wizard to find out how much dads are worth, and even print out a paycheck for yourself or the dads in your life!
"The Good Life" is asking men of the 21st century, What does your "good life" look like? Weekly themes, new content daily. Follow us here on The Good Men Project, on Twitter @GMPGoodLife, and Facebook.
We are partnering with Salary.com to ask the question “What’s a Dad Worth?” Check out their interactive polls and surveys as we approach Father’s Day. You can also head to Salary.com’s Dad Salary Wizard to find out how much dads are worth, and even print out a paycheck for yourself or the dads in your life!
