In the unexpected, the focus often shifts to the mother. But there is a whole different side that often gets overlooked – the father! Being a father is a big responsibility and it’s not easy to walk the path of the unknown alone. The great news is that you don’t have to. A friend of Two Lines Pregnancy Clinic (formerly Advice & Aid Pregnancy Center) has shared about how Pathways affects him and the fathers that come in.
I have been working with Pathways since the program started almost two years ago. For most of the first year, we had a very small group of men attending. However, I was happy to be there if even one dad found it worthwhile. We are still a fairly small group, but we have a few dads who attend regularly and I know that number will continue to grow.
We have a laid back structure, avoiding a strict curriculum for now. We meet the first and third Tuesdays of each month and a lot of the Dads come when they are able. We completely understand when a Dad has to occasionally work late, take care of a sick child or has another commitment.
We don’t follow lesson plans because of our relaxed structure but we do something incredibly important: we talk.
I have almost 30 years of experience as a dad and I’ve learned some things over those 30 years that I am able share. I come prepared with a topic and general ideas to discuss, but we have often found it very beneficial to the group to simply go wherever the discussion leads. We might talk about finances, work/life balance, taking care of Mom, somebody’s good or bad day, sometimes even the Royals – whatever the guys want to talk about that night. I find that the dads, with their more recent experiences, can often learn as much from each other as they do from me.
As with most of my volunteer efforts, I find that being a part of this group helps me as much as it helps the men who attend. We have a great group, but we always have room for more. If you can only make it once in a while or have to show up late, that’s fine. Please join us.
Getting plugged in to a group of like-minded individuals can make a whole world of difference to someone who is hurting, confused, or alone. Pathways provides that opportunity. Here at Two Lines Pregnancy Clinic (formerly Advice & Aid Pregnancy Center), we care not just about the women but also about the men that come through our doors. Men, you too have a voice that deserves to be heard and acknowledged. Let us help you get your voice heard.