More media dad stuff

Louis de Bernières, patron of Families Need Fathers, was interviewed by Yasmin Alibhai-Brown on Radio 4 this morning. Their discussion dealt with fathers’ access to their children after relationship breakdown, another reminder of the importance of fathers in the lives of their children. Is it possible that fatherhood issues are slowly surfacing in the mainstream? Let’s hope so.

New BBC Three programme

I received an email yesterday from a guy called Jack Gledhill. He's trying to spread awareness about a forthcoming BBC Three series. The channel is looking for couples who are expecting their first baby this summer to take part. This year marks the fiftieth anniversary since fathers were first allowed to step foot in the delivery room. So, fifty years on, the programme will look at getting Dads even more involved during late pregnancy, labour and assisting in the birth of their first child. The intention of the series is to promote a positive pregnancy, birth and parenting experience for both parents.

If you know of anyone who might be interested you can reach Jack on 0208 225 6916. Alternatively you can ring 07940 261552 or 0208 576 1081 or email pregnant@bbc.co.uk.

International parenting approaches

Carolyn and I attended a conference on Tuesday which had been organised by Parenting UK and the Wave Trust. Speakers gave presentations about the Leksand approach in Sweden, Kraamzorg work in Holland and the Community Mothers Programme in Ireland. What was particularly impressive from our point of view was the Leksand focus on fathers and the ability of statutory and non-statutory Swedish agencies to work together. We intend to find out how successful the approach has been in reaching and working with Swedish ‘U-Too’ dads.

A Dad Is Born

Two programmes in two days. Let’s hope this is the beginning of a national dialogue about fatherhood, and the importance of fathers, as well as mothers, in the lives of their children. What was particularly striking was the admission by one of the three men that the negative experience he’d had of being fathered had a strong impact on his attitude to becoming a father. Similarly one of the men in the previous night’s programme was concerned that he might replicate his own father’s hurtful behaviour. These impacts are identical to those acknowledged by all the young men with whom we’ve worked. It would not be difficult to conclude that fathers matter, for good or ill. As a society we just need to minimise the ‘ill’ bit. Easily said ...

Daddy Daycare

Because mainstream television programmes about fathers are such rare events, any programme focussing on fatherhood has to be welcomed. But it was disappointing that last night’s programme seemed a set up job. It was unrealistic to expect any lay person to appear competent in the scenarios presented to the dads. Indeed a cynic might think that the single mothers running the nursery had a vested interest in demonstrating that, as fathers didn’t have the necessary skills, they were not really needed. To say that the men were being “patronised" is inappropriate in the circumstances, being “matronised” might describe their circumstances more accurately.

Co-operation between men and women in the care of children, avoiding stereotypes, might be a more fruitful topic to televise. Hopefully tonight’s BBC 2 programme will be an improvement.

Getting a mention

It’s good to see the links to so many organisations that are working with fathers on THE MEN’s NETWORK. These can be found at http://brightonmanplan.wordpress.com/2012/02/12/has-the-world-gone-dad/, including a link to this blog.

It looks like John has been consulting for Channel 4 because tonight’s Daddy Daycare programme looks like it’s using his ideas. ‘Bout time too. Woman’s Hour also had a ‘dads’ piece today so it’s beginning to look like fatherhood issues are inching up the agenda. ‘Bout time too (again). But, like the Daily Mail, the programme used the dread ‘single mother’ phrase, failing to recognise that for every 'single mother’ there’s a ‘single father’ and that children need both parents.