How could I forget that it's Movember!

This first appeared in LinkedIn 19 Nov 2025

It's a very important chance to reflect on men's mental wellbeing; for me, with my community work focused on women and mothers, it seems so easy to let slip the emotional journey of #fatherhood. I would love to engage more fathers in the conversation about parenting. One step is to celebrate Movember!

I've been thinking about how many fathers share that sense of feeling just a tad disconnected from their children, even as their hearts long to connect. Studies increasingly point to the vital role fathers play in a child's development, right alongside mothers. And yet, the way we design our family routines and expectations doesn't always make room for dads to bond early on.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀? Even small, intentional shifts can open the door to deeper connection:

*𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠: mums don't have to get baby dressed or fed or washed each day; let dad throw in his interpretation of attired, meals or bath-time so there's more time for cuddles with dad. Others save weekend mornings just for father-child time.

*𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐝’𝐬 𝐫𝐡𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐦: when dads take the reins with childcare, letting them find their own approach (even if it looks different from mum’s) matters. Dr. Natasha Cabrera summed it up : "..what we observe is that fathers make a unique contribution to children’s development, which means it is not the same as moms’." Since it takes a village, with the awareness of your differences, both parents are vital in raising their child. 

*𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫: teaming up to get the nappy bag ready, talking through routines, and just being part of each other's process helps dads feel capable and lowers the nerves around solo care. It helps mums release some of the invisible load by making it visible through communication.

*Remember, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞: children move between parents for comfort, support and love at different ages. Yet those early bonds become the bedrock for later closeness as kids wander further into their own adventures.

As #consciousparents and caregivers, our job is to hold space not just for the feelings of our children, but also for the men in their world. Every act of encouragement and inclusion we offer supports both father and child.