“Industrialization created the Father’s Catch-22: a dad loving his children by being away from the love of his children.” - Warren Farrell

Our society has created a cycle of expectations where fathers are expected to work the hours necessary to maintain the healthy lifestyle of their family (better schools, safer neighborhoods, extracurricular activities).

The result: too many fathers working longer and more arduous hours to set their kids up for success, simultaneously depleting the kids of what they need for success: a present father in their life.

Catch-22: a dilemma or difficult circumstance from which there is no escape.

Let The Numbers Talk

Fathers who are growing more committed to their families face ever-increasing demands in the workplace.

• 48% of working fathers have missed a significant event in their child’s life due to work at least once in the last year, and nearly one in five (18%) have missed four or more.
• More than one in four (27%) working dads say they spend more than 50 hours a week on work, and nearly one in 10 (8%) spend more than 60 hours.
• One in four (25%) working dads spend less than one hour with their kids daily. 42% spend less than 2 hours a day.
• 36% of working dads say their company does not offer flexible work arrangements such as flexible schedules, telecommuting, job sharing, etc.

What Does This Mean?

When fathers are involved, even if they do not live in the same household, kids perform better in school and have healthier lifestyles. Part of the solution will come with a mindset shift of work expectations.

Dads - the most significant impact you can have on your kid's life is not what you provide them. It’s not even the safety of a home or food in their stomach. The most important thing you can give your kid is your presence. Nobody else can replace you as their dad.

Too many of our boys and young men suffer because 7 million men are absent; an even more significant number is not absent physically but have checked out mentally and emotionally.

Great dads, like great moms, water and air are essential to our lives. Working harder is not always what is best for your family. You are.