There’s almost nothing more rewarding or meaningful then being a parent. Raising your children to become independent and freethinking adults is one of life’s biggest accomplishments. But parenting also comes with numerous challenges that can be especially daunting for first time moms and dads. Fortunately for new mothers, there are plenty of resources available from books and magazines to online communities and playgroups.
These resources are essential for learning tips and tricks of the trade like how to properly change and dispose of a diaper or how to get the best night’s sleep during the toddler years. Unfortunately there are far fewer resources for new and expecting dads and the fatherhood industry is almost non-existent. Luckily, there are a few organizations that are here to help pave the way for the fatherhood revolution.
Daddy Daughter Hair Factory was started by single father and loving dad Phillipe Morgese of Daytona Beach, Fl. After struggling to learn how to style his daughter’s hair, Morgese decided to create his own hair care and styling class for fathers and daughters in his community.
Since the news of his class went viral in 2015, Morgese and his daughter Emma have expanded the Hair Factory to include a blog with expert tips and tricks, a Facebook page, and a YouTube channel with step-by-step video tutorials featuring everything from the basic ponytail to the wrap around braid.
Dad’s Adventure is the one stop shop for all things Dad. The organization’s founder Greg Bishop is a loving and dedicated father who also happens to be one of thirteen children. Dad’s Adventure got its start in 1990 when Bishop recruited a group of his dad friends to take their children to a local hospital to teach expecting fathers some childcare basics.
Today the organization has expanded to include a Boot Camp for New Dads, a Crash Course for Dad’s-to-Be and “Dad’s Adventure Magazine”, one of the leading educational resources for expectant dads.
The National At-Home Dad Network is the United States’ first and only non-profit organization dedicated to dads who are the primary care provider for their children. Founding fathers Mike Stilwell, Peter Steinberg, and Matt Vossler got the idea to start the organization during a playgroup meeting when they realized that there was no nationally recognized group for stay-at-home fathers. Just three years later the idea became a reality.
The organization emphasizes the growing need for support among primary care fathers as the numbers of these dads continue to grow. According to the organization’s website, the purpose of The National At-Home Dad Network is “to empower fathers and champion a culture that recognizes [fathers] as capable and competent parents.”
