So, my friend Brett Stephenson, author of the outstanding book, From Boys to Men (Park Street Press, 2006), writes: “More and more in my reading, I come across research that seems too ridiculous to be true. In Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys, for example, the authors point toward a number of studies that reflect the importance of men in a relationship, both as a spouse and as father. The fact that we even have to research whether fathers have a purpose and value is one of the saddest commentaries on our culture that I can imagine. It’s as though the underlying belief in our country is that fathers are expendable, except for the money they provide. As a man, and a father, I find this most insulting [an understatement to me -TB]. Is it any wonder so many men don’t recognize and fulfill their true responsibilities as fathers? Have we really digressed as cultural parents so far that we have to prove via empirical research that fathers indeed do have day-t0-day value in the emotional upbringing of their children?”
Kudos to Brett! My view . . . it’s worse than that. What do you think?
When I come to the game, I bring my balls. Bring yours too.