Award Season is in full swagger, and from Lombardi to Oscar, the trophies are flying everywhere. What does it mean to be at the top of one’s game? The accolades are obvious. The hard work is evident. And the labels are sticky—once you win an Academy Award, you’re forever introduced as an Academy Award Winner.
But what about the rest of us? Any dad with a few Father’s Days under his (expanding) belt has probably received some token to acknowledge the very specific set of skills that is fatherhood. A coffee mug, a t-shirt, a card, a hug, or a sweet word at bedtime. They all count. And yet, when was the last time you were introduced to anyone as Best Father Award-winner __________?
We don’t expect any of that, because we’re parents. Parents don’t have sizzle reels or highlight clips, or fleets of PR flacks working the voters. Parents have photos, and blogs (and coffee mugs and t-shirts and cards), but we have more: an elevated heart rate, an unquestioned empathy for needs beyond our own, and a wealth of experience that defies external gratification.
What does it mean to be at the top of one’s game? It means being a loving, involved parent, and that is award enough.
(A trophy would be nice, though.)
IN THE NEWS
Fact: Dads are great at parenting, too. Also, we love it.
Becoming a dad makes you a more empathetic, caring person. That’s just science. (The real kind.)
After your dad sees your daily hockey life as a kid, you just can’t help but want to show him the NHL up close.
New research shows paid family leave is actually a plus for companies. We knew it!
The Strong Fathers program, which welcomes dads in classrooms, gets bigger every year. And that’s fantastic.
“The government must … put parenthood—not marriage or motherhood—at the heart of its family policy.” Seconded.
If you ever get a letter like this from your daughter, you’ve totally won.
A dad’s viral Facebook post about his ex-wife reminds us that divorced parents can still be kind to each other.
Following his son’s suicide, a New Jersey dad started “The Kindness Challenge,” and the result has been overwhelming.
PORCHLIGHT POSTS
- What would you say if a stranger suddenly asked you for parenting advice? Michael Kwan at Beyond the Rhetoric is ready with “So You Think You Can Dad.”
- Developing Dad, aka Joe Medler, shares his family’s story, one of changing context and an evolution of understanding, in “My Sister.”
- Matt Todd at Life in the Fishbowl reflects upon the impact made by a mentor in “Thank you, Phil Gerhart. I’ll see you over the next ridge.”
- Taking a tough look at a tough topic, Aaron Saufley of Plaid Dad Blog writes “Christians: We’re Not Ready to Abolish Roe V. Wade.”
- “Divorced Dad Worries about Legacy of Loving Left for Sons” is full of lessons learned by Tim Libretti (writing at City Dads Group).
We all expect our kids to follow our instructions, because Parents. But how are we at following their directions? Josh Darnit asked his kids to provide the steps to making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and then he did exactly as he was told. Hilarity ensued.
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