Family Dynamics

Introduction We live in a pressure-filled world. Add marriage and raising children, and the stress of life can be overwhelming. In this week's blog post, I will point out some of the hazards and offer some suggestions for managing the challenges of parenting under...

It is estimated that more than 600,000 individuals are released from state and federal prisons each year in the United States. The vast majority (around 90%) of incarcerated parents are fathers. Keep in mind that, while a precise annual number of fathers returning...

What is “gentle parenting?” It is an approach to raising children that prioritizes connection, empathy, respect, and understanding. Instead of relying on punishment and rewards, it focuses on building a strong parent-child relationship and teaching children...

In my work with fathers, many of them live apart from their children. The reasons for that are many. In some cases, a separation or divorce occurred; in other circumstances, the parents were never married, and in others, there was never a serious romantic relationship...

Blended families are a significant and growing part of the American family landscape. Some sources state that close to 40% to 50% of families are blended. No two of these families are exactly alike, and each have their own difficulties and rewards. As a parent in a...

Introduction Many think of their local child support enforcement agency as the “evil empire” existing to make life difficult for struggling noncustodial parents for the benefit of the other parent. I know from personal experience it can seem that way.  More than four...

As we wrote last week, parental alienation can have devastating effects on children, causing emotional distress, anxiety, and even long-term psychological damage. It can also disrupt the child's relationship with the alienated parent, leading to feelings of guilt,...

The phone rings. I answer the call. A father pours out his heart. The mother of his children has turned his children against him. He is desperate and devastated. He wants to be part of his children’s lives, but she is making it impossible. He is crying out for help....

Interested in listening to the "Deep Dive - AI generated" audio discussion of this blog post? Click here to listen. Is there room in your heart and your home for a child who is waiting to be adopted? If so, there are plenty of available youth. According to estimates...

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It is held every October to raise awareness about the issue of domestic violence. As we often say, as men and fathers, we are responsible as leaders in our homes and neighborhoods to be protectors. What, then, is our role...

Characteristics of Failing Communities and CausesSocial Factors:Economic Factors:Environmental Factors:Political Factors:Fatherlessness and Urban DeclineTaxpayer CostFather Involvement Positively Impacts Children, Families, and CommunitiesImpact on Children:Impact on...