Family

“Better Man, Better Dad” – 18th Annual Fathers Conference – June 9th, 2018

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Better Man, Better Dad

As dads, we strive for success.  We recognize that being a good dad is a constant effort to be what our children and families need to grow strong, healthy, and happy.  This effort in fact is our primary mission here at Partnership for Dads, and every conference, partnership, and program we have is designed to help fathers everywhere fulfill this mission.

As any counselor or parenting expert will tell you though, being better as a dad isn’t just parenting skills and providing, it’s also about taking care of yourself.  It’s about working to be healthy, mentally and physically, because your health will dictate your true availability for your family.  It’s about making an effort to be a better man every day, recognizing that your behavior sets the example that your children most learn from as they grow into contributors of society.

In recognizing this, our theme for the Partnership for Dads 18th Annual Fathers Conference is “Better Man, Better Dad”.  At our conference, we will explore what being a better man means and through our workshops and presentations, provide tools for dads and families to use in pursuing this.Eric Hipple  We are also very excited to introduce Eric Hipple, former NFL Quarterback for the Detroit Lions and author of “Real Men Do Cry”, as Keynote Speaker for the 18th Annual Fathers Conference.  In his heartfelt and engaging keynote address, Eric Hipple will inspire you with his journey to success before, during and after life in the NFL.  Building on the energy, motivation, connectedness, and sense of purpose that exists in a “healthy mind”, his presentation will provide constructive strategies, resources, and materials for school staff, students, and parents to use to encourage positive behaviors.  In attending, you will learn methods to identify depression, as well as strategies to promote healthy behaviors.

To coincide with other activities planned for the month of June in celebration of Fathers Day, this years Fathers Conference will be held on Saturday, June 9th, 2018 at the Oakland Schools Education Service and Conference Center.  An incredible lineup of workshops are planned with amazing speakers, as always.  You can register for the conference at any time by visiting https://www.partnershipfordads.org/fathers-conference/.

An Open Letter to Young Dads and Dads-to-Be

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As I write this, our first-born is just back home from his first year of college and our youngest is soon to finish her junior year of high school. A window will close soon for us. That window through which we enjoy hours and hours physically together most days, molding each other. That window closure is the natural way of things; it truly is the way it’s meant to be as they become their own people. Though this dad finds that bittersweet, it’s much easier to face knowing I have no big regrets.

That’s not to say I didn’t make mistakes; I made tons of them, and continue to very regularly. But I don’t look back and say “I wish I’d made more effort to be a part of it all.” I was intentional, from well before they were born, about being as much a part of their childhood as humanly possible. For all the miscues in the past and future, getting that one right has made all the difference for them, and for me.

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