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May 26, 1999
A national movement under way is helping redefine the role of fathers.
Part of the change is a result of the influx of more women into the work force.
But dads are also searching to have a different relationship with their kids than their fathers did with them.
Dan D'Amico: "My Dad didn't get to do a lot of stuff when I was growing up with me, you know. I had to camp with the neighbors, and I kind of feel like he missed out on a lot of things he could have done with us kids."
But Dan D'Amico- the single father of three daughters -
is determined to be different.
Dan D'Amico: "When I plan things, I plan around my kids."
Nicole D'Amico: "All my friends' Dads are always busy and doing stuff. But, like, he takes time off work if he has to go to one of our soccer games."
Soccer is a big part of the family's life and
dad has made a committment to go to every game he can.
Dan D'Amico: "I like to believe that I'm supporting them, you know. Sometimes, I'm sure that they don't want me there because I'm yelling so much."
Organizations from the National Fathering Institute to the Fatherhood Project - which are championing the rights of fathers and restoring responsible fatherhood -- say D'Amico is on the right track.
The group has several suggestions for working parents to bridge the gap between they and their children.
Bring the kids to the office on Saturday to explain what you do all day during the week.
Have a tradition of calling at a certain while away on business trips.
Visit the child's classroom.
And
enforce bedtimes so parents can spend time together.
Dan has even gone so far as to choose a flexible job - as a housepainter -
in order to be more available for his daughters.
Dan D'Amico: "There're a lot of fathers that work too much and don't get involved in the things kids do, so they don't really even know their kids."
For more information on fathering and the Fatherhood Movement, call our Family Now information line at 1-800-575-5751.
