If, as we are told by activists, psychologists, and national treasure RuPaul that “it’s all drag”, that gender is a performance, not a reliable marker of identity, what challenges do these new understandings of identity pose for men who want to be good fathers but do not want to rely on outdated gender roles? What makes a “dad” when we live in an era that does not trust the base identity of “male”?...
The show, which premieres on HBO Max alongside the whole channel’s launch on May 27, will feature real, human, celebrity guests like the Jonas Brothers, John Mulaney, and Jason Sudeikis, but also the regular cast of characters like Oscar the Grouch and the Cookie Monster. The show looks like a blend between adult interests — Kacey Musgraves will be one of the guests — and the vested interests of children, largely meaning puppets on Sesame Street....
Kids can be drawn to button batteries because they’re shiny, smooth, and easy to grab. And since small children instinctively put almost anything they seize into their mouth, they’re a massive choking risk. But the danger doesn’t stop there: Even if swallowed cleanly, the acid within the button batteries can seep out when the batteries become wet, causing significant damage to the esophagus and internal organs in very little time....
When I was about 16 or 17, my father gave me his collection of Playboys. I guess it’s sort of an old-school tradition, ‘The handing down of the nudie mags.’ I thought it was the coolest thing ever at the time. I’d bring my friends over and show them off. All of this was kept secret from my mother, of course – I’m actually not even sure if she knew my dad had them, come to think of it....
We asked 12 men, all experienced parents, to reflect on this question. Their answers reflect the subjects that caused some avoidable friction in their marriages as well as those that simply would’ve helped them better complement each other as parents and people. The moral of the story? Asking is crucial. Here are some questions to think about. 1. Why do they want kids? “Is it because you’re supposed to have kids when you get married?...
In her new book, Weiss argues that the ideology, and near-mythic status, of the middle class has forced us all to live in a not only a constant state of competition but also a constant state of worry about our assets and investments (like the prohibitive costs of private education from K-12 through college for our kids) that may or may not pay off. The myth of advancement, which has become an increasingly untenable goal in this economy, she argues, keeps us tethered to these values....
What’s a Vasectomy? How Does It Work? A vasectomy isn’t major surgery, but it’s not like getting a cavity filled, either. It’s a sterilization procedure that cuts or blocks the vasa deferentia, the tubes in your testicles that transport your swimmers (again, jargon for sperm). No swimmers, no baby. You’ll still release semen when you orgasm, but there won’t be enough sperm in it to get your partner pregnant. What Types of Vasectomies Are There?...
When we weren’t in school, my friends and I spent all of our time outside. We’d build tree forts, make elaborate bike ramps, catch crawfish in the creek, and play Ghost in the Graveyard until nightfall. I kept my Rubik’s cube on the nightstand next to the latest book I was reading (Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, The Secret of Nimh, How to Eat Fried Worms, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Choose Your Own Adventure)....
Two separate surveys have made it clear that Colorado may be the best place to live for families and parents who smoke pot. A survey by U.S. News of the best cities to live in the United States — and a report from Lawnstarter, which listed the best cities to get stoned in the United States — has a curious overlap. Now, if we were to take these surveys at face value — we recommend taking this all in with a grain of salt — there would be some fun stuff to discover....
Historically, it’s been difficult for scientists to study the relationship between weed and pregnancy. Marijuana is listed as a Schedule I drug by the U.S. government, which is the same classification as heroin. Not only does that mean illegal possession can land you a felony charge, but it also means scientists have to jump through a lot of hoops to study it. Despite these restrictions, researchers in the late 1980s figured out that the active ingredient in marijuana, THC, can travel across the bridge of the placenta and reach the fetus....
RELATED: Ridiculously Simple Things This Security Expert Does To Protect His Home The perfect solution to security fears often appears to be a home security system. But, unfortunately, those systems may leave you with a false sense of that thing they’re supposed to provide. So, here are some things to consider when you’re investing in the safety of your family. Types of Home Security Systems If you’re going to purchase a home security system, research is crazy necessary....
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced last Tuesday that the deadline to pay any taxes owed to the government was moving to July 15, but he was adamant that the filing deadline would remain the same. On Friday, he reversed course. The IRS followed up with a press release that offered more specific information. “Taxpayers can also defer federal income tax payments due on April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed....
“Kids will develop their own modesty at different levels,” explains Dr. Elizabeth Murray, a pediatric emergency physician and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics. “Some four- or five-year-olds feel very strongly about privacy and some kids don’t care about it until they are eight or nine years old.” Essentially, this is about consent. Once it’s no longer comfortable for a child to share bath time, it’s time for individual baths or showers....
Grant, a now-famous dad, is just a typical guy: he lives in Australia with his wife, and along with his daughter 22-year-old daughter Stace, the two of them have been able to gain over 1.6 million followers on TikTok in a short amount of time. Their success didn’t come from following the viral dances that make the teenagers famous, though. Instead, Stace shares adorably cute videos of Grant. And fans seem to really like it....
“This is why even the baldest men are never total bald,” explains dermatologist Susan Bard, M.D. “DHT is a much more potent androgen than testosterone and is responsible for many secondary male characteristics like dark terminal hairs on the face and body. DHT acts on the scalp follicles with the opposite effect.” Because roughly 10% of the body’s testosterone is converted into DHT by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase, men with high testosterone are more prone to baldness and, for the same reason, proliferating body hair....
I thought about this as I stood in front of the beer fridges at my neighborhood liquor store, trying to decide which six-pack to bring to my first night with the neighborhood dad’s group. You’re never too old to worry about making a good first impression. This story was submitted by a Fatherly reader. Opinions expressed in the story do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Fatherly as a publication....
Part of this is biological. Women’s oxytocin levels surge during birth and pregnancy to facilitate bonding. And, although there’s growing evidence that men bond with babies during pregnancy too, studies suggest their oxytocin levels only truly surge once they spend time caring for their children. And herein lies the rub. A mixture of maternal gatekeeping and societal biases tend to push men away from hands-on parenthood. One study out of Oxford University found that new fathers, “whatever their intentions about sharing roles with their partners, found they were ending up in quite traditional structures where mother raised the child and father worked to support them,” Anna Machin, the evolutionary anthropologist who conducted the research, told The Telegraph....
If only there were a way to carve out some alone time for yourself; a time to maintain your individuality and be a better husband and father and not a codependent sad sack. (Hey, nobody told you to stop folding socks!) Famed couples therapist and TED rockstar Esther Perel has a way, and it involves drawing boundaries around your time, doing activities that are in your best interest (and not necessarily your kid’s), and not feeling guilty about wanting to just run out the door screaming....
“Seeing the baby on the screen seemed to herald an escalation of their awareness of the baby, reinforcing its reality,” wrote Jan Draper of the Royal College of Nursing Institute in the 2002 research paper ‘It was a real good show’: the ultrasound scan, fathers and the power of visual knowledge.’ “Visual knowledge, as opposed to other forms of knowledge, therefore became a primary means of knowing the baby.” The ultrasound is one of but a few important rituals that helps pregnancy feel more “real” for men....
Bailar didn’t know that he was trans at the time Harvard recruited him. He took a gap year before college to get treatment for an eating disorder, and with all the mental health support he was receiving, he realized that he’s a trans guy. Bailar told his coach, and Harvard offered him a spot on the men’s swim team. He went back and forth deciding between the two. He really liked the athletes on the women’s team, but he eventually decided to swim with the men....
