When you think of Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop, any number of images might come to mind. Despite the parody and litigation, though, Goop continues to expand, and 23% of site visitors are men. We may be shopping for the women in our lives, or sniggering at the yoni eggs. Or maybe, we’re more interested in preventative health, self-care, and living our best lives.
Goop appears to be all in on Option 3, because next month they’ll be starting up Goopfellas, a podcast featuring men who have taken steps “to change, to heal, and to reinvent themselves.” And we’ll be listening.
One of the notable quotes from that Wall Street Journal piece shed some light on a challenge Goopfellas might face: “But what does wellness mean for men, and is it at odds with traditional notions of masculinity, which goad them to be hard-driving and invulnerable?”
You lost us at “traditional notions of masculinity,” most of which are nonsense.
Throughout our eight-year existence, in breakout panels and with Movember, Dad 2.0 Summit has encouraged men to watch their health by keeping fit and monitoring our hearts, prostates, testicles, and other man-parts. But wellness is a whole ‘nother thing, and men are a lucrative market for expansion.
This is a good thing, because self-care makes you a better father, partner, and human. “Traditional masculinity” be damned.
Wellness as a men’s lifestyle isn’t all that new. We got the hint when Tony Soprano first walked into Dr. Melfi’s office. We’re still surprised, though, that society still arches its eyebrows when a man wants to invest aggressively in his well-being, so he can hang around longer for his family. Since we tend to die off five years sooner than women, we need all the help we can get.
In Senegal, a photographer broke stereotypes showing that men can be seen in public caring for their children.
Parents, are you a negative behavior detector?
Finding enough time for work and family is a fine line, but dads are trying to walk it.
“It’s important just to break the stereotype that this isn’t all glitter and smiles and this easy sport. It is a sport.”
“This is the club you never want to be a part of, yet it is so supportive.”
“What matters, in the end, is less whether parents manage to sustain listening and more that they keep coming back to try.”
Kids (and parents) love superheroes, and that is full of positives!
Parents, do you have a “fussy eater” in your house?
A family pet brings love and lessons for the kids AND the parents. Does your family have a furry, feathered, or scaly member?
- “Little kids are usually grossed out by love or affection not given by their parents or family members, and the idea that the relationships they have are somehow more than friendships is embarrassing.” – Amber Leventry, Stop Asking Young Kids If Their Friends Are Their ‘Boyfriend/Girlfriend’
- “People like the idea that there is somebody somewhere looking out for them.” – Jeremy Barnes, A Child’s Prayers
- “Good thing your old dad’s pretty cool.” – Stewart Reynolds, DADisms
- “For the sake of your family, stop sharing yourself with people who rob you of your spare time.” – James Fouche, Losing Everything and Fighting Depression
- “Each day I wake up and I choose to be married.” – Jonathan “J.O.” Oliver, How Much Does a Divorce Cost? Constant Work Helps Keep Marriage Alive
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