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ParentMap, June 2007
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This month, we interview modern-day dads and discuss their
ever-evolving role in raising kids. We tackle discipline in Ages &
Stages, from first steps to coping with teen attitude, then head Out
& About for fun with bugs and berries. Our Getting School Ready
columnist Linda Morgan offers great tips for sneaking learning into
family travel, and, as the temperature rises, Natasha Petroff covers
talking to kids about climate change. We’re also proud to present our
new special section about all things home and house- buying, Nest.
Feature: Fatherhood now: Redefining 'Daddy'
From the Editor: About this issue
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About this issue
Dear Reader:
There was uproarious laughter at our weekly Friday night family dinner
this week as a guest recounted her father’s dissimilarities to fathers
and husbands of today. The kids fell off their chairs when our friend
said her father’s monosyllabic utterance of the word “salt” had her mom
jumping out of her chair to fetch it. I won’t indicated which male in
the room mumbled “the last real man” under his breath. My 1960’s dad
actually shopped, cooked and created the most delicious and frequent
home cooked meals in our home from beginning to end.
We know dads today are far from being considered mom’s helper and
child’s playmate, as they were in the not-so-remote last century. This
month’s feature, “Fatherhood Now” highlights the continual evolution of fathers’ roles and the positive impact it has on the whole family.
Dramatic progress has also taken place in how we discipline (Ages & Stages)
and what makes it effective. As parents, we are most grateful for the
guidance we get from today’s focus on reflection and teaching instead
of yesteryear’s version of reaction and punishment. Who remembers the
infamous “wait until your father gets home” mentality? Growing up in my
house, we breathed a sigh of relief when it was Dad in charge. Unlike
many of his peers, strict household disciplinarian was a title he
neither desired nor could fulfill. “Discipline means teaching, not
punishment” is a profound shift in thinking whether you are taming tantrums of your three-year-old or trying to refine the surly disrespect of your teen.
And, as we blissfully transition from the end-of-year extreme school
schedules to a smooth sailing summer, Out & About offers great
Father’s Day adventures for all. Summer urban foraging
suggests delicious wild berry escapades and education that will delight
all. In the words of author Kathryn True, grab a bucket and go!
Wishing a Happy Father’s Day to all.
—Alayne Sulkin, Publisher/Editor
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