Q: People always say that life will never be the same after having a child. How, exactly, does becoming a father change a man? A: There's an old saying in the Talmud that a man has three names: the one his parents gave him at birth, the one that others call him, and the one he calls himself. A person's identity, according to the rabbis, is a rather amorphous thing. What the … [Read more...] about How Fatherhood Has Changed You
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The Meaning of Fatherhood
Q: It seems that the definition of "fatherhood" has changed a lot over the years, while the definition of being a mom doesn’t seem to have changed all that much. What does it mean to be a father these days? A: To fully integrate the idea of being a father into your self-identity, it'll help to understand exactly what being a father actually involves. One of the most … [Read more...] about The Meaning of Fatherhood
Children With Special Needs
Q: My wife and I have a child with a number of special needs. Although we both love our child very much, there's no question that parenting him has taken a toll on our marriage and the rest of the family (we have other children). Interestingly, my wife and I respond to the stress very differently. Is there anything we can do to reduce the tension, as well as improve our … [Read more...] about Children With Special Needs
Should Fathers Be Involved in School?
Q: My child's school often sends out emails asking for moms to volunteer in the classroom or around the school. A lot of these communications talk about how important it is for mothers to be involved in their children's education. As a father, I find this a little annoying, and I'm wondering whether you know of any evidence that dads' involvement is important too? A: There's … [Read more...] about Should Fathers Be Involved in School?
Classical Music: Listening to Mozart and Kids’ Intelligence
Q: We are parents of two kids, 6 and 8, and our closest friends have kids the exact same ages. These friends swear that they can increase their children's IQ by playing certain kinds of music. I think they're full of it. But could they possibly be right? Does music actually increase a child’s intelligence? A: Remember the Mozart Effect – the wildly popular idea that … [Read more...] about Classical Music: Listening to Mozart and Kids’ Intelligence