Our World Needs Dads. That’s Why We Must Never Denigrate Them.
I am fortunate to be the father of both boys and girls.
There may never have been a better time to be a girl growing up in America than today.
Great progress has been made to open opportunities for women to thrive — which fills me with hope as I look at my daughters and imagine the possible futures open to them.
But amid all this progress I wonder if maybe we’ve dropped the ball somewhere when it comes to our boys.
In our culture it’s not uncommon to hear people mock, belittle, or denigrate dads — often they get portrayed as optional, irrelevant, or another child for moms to raise.
But here’s the truth: our world needs dads — perhaps more than ever.
We need DADS™ who protect and provide. Dads who set and enforce boundaries. Dads who are present and teach by example what it means to have real-life relationships, empathy and practice discipline.
When I consider the way in which the role of Dad is too often disparaged or dismissed — it’s little wonder many men forgo being fathers at all.
At DADS™ — Dads Against Devices™ we’re striving to change this. DADS™ is more than just boundaries around screens and social media. It’s an effort to help fathers lead in their homes — to inspire, encourage and elevate them in their efforts to teach by example.
So this is my invitation for women and mothers — join me in supporting and encouraging the men in your lives to be DADS™.
From my home,
Matthew
Founder, DADS™— Dads Against Devices™
Our pledge.
I will lead my family — by example and instruction — to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, and nurture the attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith. To protect my family, I will not allow social media or unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted access to screens, gaming, or the internet in my home, nor will I provide personal smartphones to my children until they demonstrate the maturity to use them responsibly.