Comments on: Deconstructing Dad

By: Randy Rieland

Randy Rieland — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 01:55:27 +0000

Actually, with this study, the testosterone levels of the male subjects were measured both when they were single and childless and then again after their spouse had a child. And it tended to drop considerably after they fathered a child. You can read more about it at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/health/research/13testosterone.html?_r=3

By: henry g

henry g — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:28:23 +0000

how does a man’s body know that it fathered a child & produce less testosterone? hogwash. men w/less testosterone make better fathers because they have less testosterone!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 19:30:41 +0000

The man who raised me was not my biological father but truly the man I believe to be my father in the deepest sense of that word. He was the man who took care of me through all those difficult years on the path to manhood. He taught me things I never dreamed existed and opened a universe that filled me with excitement, curiosity and the thrill of discovery. My mother gave me a true understanding of love and selfless dedication to family through good and bad times. Between them I was given the true meaning of human values and a sense of commitment to things that are greater than one’s self.

They have both passed on now but I am eternally grateful for all I have learned from them.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 17:20:07 +0000

Thank you for a positive and well researched article. You just don’t see enough in the media about the amazing impact caring fathers can have.

I know it must have been challenging 26 years ago for a single father to raise a little girl, but my dad managed. He was a great romodel and now that my husband and I are expecting our first child, I can see what a great father my husband will be.

By: Larry G

Larry G — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 13:57:45 +0000

I cannot believe how many articles were published this week slamming fathers in one fashion or another. Its a disappointing trend in today’s society. Sure there are men who do not step up to the plate to be fathers at all… and some who are lousy fathers. But for all the good ones out there… our society and their children are better off… moving ahead to lead productive lives with love in their heart.

Write articles like those that appeared this week about mothers… and there would be no end to criticism and crying foul.

God bless BOTH my mother and father for their love and guidance. Love you mom and dad!!!

By: toni Wister

toni Wister — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 10:36:37 +0000

I was blessed to have a great older dad. He molded my life because he took care of me all through the illness of my mom. In my life I couldn’t agree more with the article. I have friends whose dads due to illness could not be there for them and their lives were totally affected by the lack of their involvement in their lives. Thanks for a great article.

By: Greg Larson

Greg Larson — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 21:42:16 +0000

Great article and summary of research re: Dadliness.

The web link is to a column based on remarks made at the Silicon Valley Top Dads luncheon in 2010. Great to have this column and research back it up.

By: Richard Spilman

Richard Spilman — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 20:23:23 +0000

I have a stepdaughter and a foster son, and in both cases, #7 above really plays into their lives. Anxiety, yes, but also a kind of stoic resignation, a sense that life is just waiting to screw them over.

By: pat

pat — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 17:51:59 +0000

This is pure hogwash and wishful thinking about fatherhood at best. Very flawed premises lead to very flawed conclusions. Catering to the family values crowd much these days, Smithsonian editors?

By: Martin Brossman

Martin Brossman — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 16:26:41 +0000

I just want to say: Happy Father’s Day and say thinks to all you men that have been a father in some way to a man. It is so popular in our culture to show indirectly how Men and Fathers are not needed and I say we need Fathering more now than any time in history. I would like to see a article called “Why do we love to make Fathers wrong in our culture and the cost to our Sons and Daughters”.