It's time for you to speak your mind. No more lurking in the shadows.

I'd really like to get your feedback. What are your main concerns as a parent--and as a dad? Tell me what gives you the most distress and causes the most worry? What keeps you up at night? (besides your baby's crying). I'm inviting you to tell me what's on your mind as it relates to being a father. 

It doesn't matter where you are in your fatherhood journey. I want to know because I want this site and the Fatherville monthly newsletter to address your concerns and questions. I want this site to be relevant. Sure, the site has great articles and provides great parenting tips. But what you really want is timely, useful and informative ideas on how best to navigate the path of fatherhood. So don't be shy. Tell me what's on your mind. 

And while you are at it. If you've got an idea for improving the Fatherville website please let me know. I want the site to be the best fathering site on the web.

Now on to the good stuff...

By Mark Brandenburg via markbrandenburg.com

For more great tips and action steps for fathers, sign up for his FREE bi-weekly newsletter, “Dads, Don’t Fix Your Kids,” at http://www.markbrandenburg.com.

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Remember when you held your first baby in your arms and—probably not out loud—asked yourself, “Now what do I do?” You didn’t get an answer, did you? 

Well, dad, I’m glad you’re seeking new insights and information to be the best dad you can be. 

At work, a job description helps keep you on task for your company. But what about a “job description for dads”? It’s important for dads—of all ages—to think through issues, plan our strategy, and begin to put it into place. 

Your job description for fatherhood probably should begin with expectations. You may sense certain expectations from our culture, from co-workers, from your parents or your in-laws. But a good place to start is with the expectations carried by you and your wife. 

First, it’s vital that you recognize and understand your father’s impact on your life, because that’s where you first received messages about what a father does. None of our fathers were perfect, so it’s important for us to understand their shortcomings as well as carry forward their strengths. 

Then, talk intentionally with your wife. She is an essential parenting partner, and like you, her expectations for you will be influenced by her father. If her dad was absent or abusive, she may find it difficult to trust you with the children. If her father was present but emotionally disconnected, she may not appreciate the unique assets you bring to the parenting team. If she had a close, loving relationship with him, she may have high expectations and you may feel pressure to live up to an unrealistic ideal. 

Discuss all of those issues. Help her understand your ideas about fathering, and listen closely to her perspective. Ask her what she expects of you as a father. Get specific. Talk about daily caretaking duties, the amount of time spent with the kids, discipline, navigating work and family issues, moral and spiritual training, the priority of your marriage, and other values related to childrearing. 

Once you’ve defined what is realistic to expect from yourself as a dad, I suggest verbalizing your commitment to that role. Define “father” as a verb, not a noun. Resolve to live out your commitment to your children day by day.

Ken Canfield via Fathers.com

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1. Set the example. Spend time reading daily with your child.

2. Teach your child the different purposes that reading serves. Reading for pleasure, information, education so that your child learns different reading techniques.

3. Allow your child to subscribe to one magazine. Let your child choose the magazine, as long as it's appropriate. Children, who are allowed to develop their own reading tastes, read more than children, who are forced to read what others want them to read.

4. Reading is a part of daily life. Make reading relevant to your child. If he or she likes to cook, discuss how reading recipes helps make you a better cook. If he or she likes sports, then talk about reading the sports page.

5. Get a family library card and USE IT!

6. Reward your child for reading! Buy him or her a book that you loved as a child and read it together.

7. Read poetry. There are many great children's poets out there. Poetry for children tends to be funny, engaging, and fairly easy to read. Read it aloud.

Permission: Reading Is Fundamental

Fatherhood Writers Wanted

Are you interested in writing fathering related articles for Fatherville.com? We are always looking for dads who like to write. If you are interested please contact us.

STEPFATHERS---STEPFATHERS---STEPFATHERS---STEPFATHERS---STEPFATHERS---STEPFATHERS

Are you a stepfather? Would you be interested in sharing your stepfathering experiences with other stepathers? We are looking for one stepfather who would would be willing to contribute his stepfathering experiences, on a monthly basis, over a one year period and allow Fatherville.com to publish his experiences on the Fatherville.com website. As a special incentive Fatherville.com will reward the qualifying father with three fathering related books of choice from Amazon.com.

Note: None of the fathers who contribute to the Fatherville.com web site are financially compensated for their contributions. However you will almost certainly be richly rewarded by the interaction that takes place between our readership and you, the potential author. So c'mon dad...give it a go. You never know when your fatherhood experiences will touch the life of another father.

Isn't It Time You Express Your Fatherhood?

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Until next month...hang in there dad!!

Michael E. Farrell
Fatherville.com - Where Real Fathers Write About Real Fatherhood

You may reach me anytime via email at: mike@fatherville.com