Tag: Inside Fatherhood

Viewpoint: why do single dads face casual sexism when they travel?

* This article first appeared in Telegraph Travel in time for Father’s Day. More on this theme from my book [pictured above], Inside Fatherhood.

We went to stay with Spanish friends during the last school holiday.

It worked well for a family trip with two other kids for my two girls to play with, the freedom of an unstructured routine and an insider sense of the local culture.

But, most of all, as a man who has travelled alone with his kids since they were young, there was another man there who both understood the challenges of modern fatherhood and shared my passion for showing his children the world.

I often struggle to find this kind of camaraderie on a family holiday.

The sense of isolation I have felt at times as a divorced father, who shares custody jointly with the girls’ mother, has made for some uncomfortable travel experiences.

Suspicious minds

It’s not the just practical aspects, such as who keeps an eye on the children while I go to the bathroom.

More frustratingly, a man alone with two little girls can be viewed with curiosity, sometimes suspicion.

Immigration officials at a major European airport once stopped us, asking to see birth certificates to prove the girls were actually my children.

More commonly, I’m subjected to other holidaymakers quizzing me about why I’m alone.

“Can I ask,” one relative stranger once enquired as I was nonchalantly loading my plate at the evening buffet, “is your wife dead?”

Last resort

But I really spat the dummy when a restaurant manager rather publicly warned me not to take my youngest daughter, and then aged just five, into the gents.

“If she needs to go, then I’ll just have to take her to the ladies,” she bristled.

I politely suggested through gritted teeth that she should go and get a copy of her DBS certificate first.

So, as thoughts turn to celebrating our devoted dads for Father’s Day this weekend, isn’t time we gave single dads a break?

Read the full article here.

Two essential events at this year’s Chester Lit Fest

A busy day at Chester’s Storyhouse, then.

It was the final full week of the Chester Literature Festival and I was running two events last week — a morning discussion [first two slides] and a lunchtime workshop [latter two slides].

The former was based around my book, Inside Fatherhood, and took the form of an audience-participation discussion about modern masculinity, fatherhood and male role models.

The latter was a writing workshop, serving as a taster for anyone trying to their idea into print, albeit fiction, journalism, blog or memoir.

Mark Chester, founder of the organisation Who Let The Dads Out, joined me.

He helped to lead the discussion and then bounce ideas in the workshop about more creative writing, while I focused on writing for magazines and websites.

Thanks to Mark and everyone who turned up on the day, including those we dragged up to join the discussion. We appreciate your support.

And we had some good feedback afterwards:

“I throughly enjoyed it and as usual, found some like-minded people to chat to. I’d enjoy any [future] event that makes me write something.”

So, here’s to the next one … watch this space.

My Father’s Day Legacy At The Fatherhood Summit

 

I was invited to the Fatherhood Summit recently.

The event, arranged by Who Let the Dads Out (WLTDO), brought together people to discuss the role of fathers and modern masculinity in general.

My book, Inside Fatherhood, had just come out and I was interviewed on stage by WLTDO founder Mark Chester, about my fatherhood legacy as we celebrate 80 years of Father’s Day this June.

There were some great discussions on the day, many based around the debate of a golden age of fatherhood or a time of crisis.

I waded in with some pancake mix — watch the video to find out more.

Sign up now! It’s my book launch in Chester

Book launch news.

The venue is booked and the invites ready to go.

I’m hosting a launch event on May 17 in Chester for my new book, Inside Fatherhood, to mark 80 years of Father’s Day this June.

Here’s some background:

Join us for a launch evening of thought-provoking discussion with some of the men I interviewed for the book, sharing their experiences of fatherhood and advice for the next 80 years.

It’s an upbeat appreciation of the importance of fathers. No dry speeches, nor long readings. Pay-as-you-go drinks.

Sign up for this free event at this Eventbrite link.