Daniel makes stuff, and, in his spare time, writes about things like movies, kid culture, and geek stuff.
The Virtues of a Slow-Moving Dad

Michael Winerip, of the New York Times, considers the growing cadre of men who are experiencing fatherhood late in life. For many, it’s the first time being a dad – but for others, it’s a second round of fatherhood, with the new perk of ample time to be with their young children as they grow.

This time, Mr. Fliegelman, whose wife, Josephine, 50, is a speech therapist, is anchoring the household. When his first child, Bessie, now 33, was born, he was literally coming up from the underground, from a life on the edge as a radical activist with the Weathermen. He was a single father sharing custody of Bessie, working at a private school and studying nights to become certified to teach in the public schools. “A struggle,” Mr. Fliegelman said. “A very harried life.”

Three years ago, when Isaac was 2, Mr. Fliegelman retired, after 25 years as a New York City special education teacher. “The thing that’s most amazing to me this time,” he said, “there are days I can think about Isaac and nothing else. I mean, I think about making dinner, but I can give him an enormous amount of undivided attention.”

The real value of Presence… Maybe we don’t understand its importance in parenting until we’re old.

(Via The Evolution of Dad.)

Feb 14, 2010 :: Tagged under: , , :: #