The Company of Dads

Are you a Lead Dad aka the go-to parent? I'm Paul Sullivan and I created The Company of Dads to bring together dads like me across the country. It’s a role I know well. While I was a New York Times columnist for the 13 years, I also had a second job that I loved but kept secret: I was the Lead Dad for our three daughters – but don’t call me Mr. Mom. Earlier this year, I launched The Company of Dads to bring together Lead Dads whether they worked full time, part time or devoted all of their times to their family. I also wanted to show working moms that there could be help and create awareness within companies to change their parenting policies. Join our community today to connect with other Dad's like us & learn more about how to make the most out of your role. https://lnkd.in/eUEmy5jj

Traditions are the anchors of family life. Whether passed down through generations or something we start on our own, they can create a common bond between us, our ancestors, and our own families down through the ages.  Embracing tradition doesn’t mean stifling creativity – it’s about adapting and preserving what matters most. How do you keep traditions alive in your family? Here are a few tips. # LeadDad #FamilyTraditions #LegacyLearning #CulturalHeritage #TraditionTeaching

What if men had the training and wherewithal to support their wives through the most difficult time of becoming a mother? The challenge to mental health that pregnancy, birth and that post-partum period can bring on. Matthew Morris, a former Marine Captain and our Lead Dad of the Week, wondered this when his wife Shannon, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, was pregnant with their first child. They were living in Europe seeking non-hospital settings to give birth and working to maintain their mental health. “We didn’t find answers at the Veterans Administration, in traditional medicine or non-traditional medicine,” he said. “I read every pregnancy book there is. All of them focused on the medical side or the anatomical side which is important. But I couldn’t find anything through the Department of Defense, Department of Education or other places that talked to expecting dads in how to assist their wives in their mental health journey. It’s just not there What I found is that responsibility is often pushed away from the partner and onto individuals outside the household.” He wanted to change that. They were both in their post-military lives but still used to the military way of often creating short manuals for just about everything. “We have a manual on how to clean toilets as a Marine,” he said. “But we don’t have a manual for maternal mental health?” So Matthew and Shannon decided to write one for parents modeled on the MCDP 1 – the first book every Marine reads. Its title is “Warfighting.” “Ours is 100 pages, big pictures, designed for any Marine to read,” he said. The first volume is “The Partners Purpose During Pregnancy.” They envision their books as part of a three-volume set that will encompass the pre- and post-birth lives of parents. He wrote it; she illustrated it – and also edited it down to half the original length. The idea is to make something comprehensive but short so that men stay engaged and helpful if the mothers of their children have mental health issues around childbirth. “It’s my responsibility to build the relationships with the birth team so I know what to do,” said Matthew. “It could be a traditional doctor, a doula or a witch doctor who does shakey shakey over the birth. You still need to be there for your wife.” And he has been for her and their daughter Mavin. Welcome, Matthew, to The Company of Dads. https://lnkd.in/gMUMQRd8 https://lnkd.in/e48ACzQs #leaddad #militarymom #postpartum #pregnancy

Bright Horizons Work Life Equation “Break Free from the Ladder: Forging Non-Linear Career Paths” with guest Jenna Fisher! Listen now: https://bit.ly/4c9VDf3

Just because you're a lead dad doesn't mean you don't need help. Skip Cherryholmes explores his faults and strengths on Month 11 of the Lead Dad Diaries: https://lnkd.in/e6GfY_Mk #leaddad #askforhelp #lifetothefullest

What if men had the training and wherewithal to support their wives through the most difficult time of becoming a mother? The challenge to mental health that pregnancy, birth and that post-partum period can bring on. Matthew Morris, a former Marine Captain and our Lead Dad of the Week, wondered this when his wife Shannon, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, was pregnant with their first child. They were living in Europe seeking non-hospital settings to give birth and working to maintain their mental health. “We didn’t find answers at the Veterans Administration, in traditional medicine or non-traditional medicine,” he said. “I read every pregnancy book there is. All of them focused on the medical side or the anatomical side which is important. But I couldn’t find anything through the Department of Defense, Department of Education or other places that talked to expecting dads in how to assist their wives in their mental health journey. It’s just not there What I found is that responsibility is often pushed away from the partner and onto individuals outside the household.” He wanted to change that. They were both in their post-military lives but still used to the military way of often creating short manuals for just about everything. “We have a manual on how to clean toilets as a Marine,” he said. “But we don’t have a manual for maternal mental health?” So Matthew and Shannon decided to write one for parents modeled on the MCDP 1 – the first book every Marine reads. Its title is “Warfighting.” “Ours is 100 pages, big pictures, designed for any Marine to read,” he said. The first volume is “The Partners Purpose During Pregnancy.” They envision their books as part of a three-volume set that will encompass the pre- and post-birth lives of parents. He wrote it; she illustrated it – and also edited it down to half the original length. The idea is to make something comprehensive but short so that men stay engaged and helpful if the mothers of their children have mental health issues around childbirth. “It’s my responsibility to build the relationships with the birth team so I know what to do,” said Matthew. “It could be a traditional doctor, a doula or a witch doctor who does shakey shakey over the birth. You still need to be there for your wife.” And he has been for her and their daughter Mavin. Welcome, Matthew, to The Company of Dads. https://lnkd.in/gMUMQRd8 https://lnkd.in/e48ACzQs #leaddad #militarymom #postpartum #pregnancy

An all new episode of the Work-Life Equation podcast with Priya and Paul, with special guest Jenna Fisher. Click here to see the full episode: https://bit.ly/4c9VDf3

I’m thrilled to be part of today’s episode of The Work-Life Equation podcast, hosted by Paul Sullivan, founder of the The Company of Dads, and Priya Krishnan of Bright Horizons. Last week, in advance of this podcast conversation that touches on the changing role of men on the homefront and how those changes are affecting company cultures, I wrote about Paul’s impactful work to further gender equality in the workplace and the important work Bright Hotizons is doing. (https://lnkd.in/gbp9AB2p) You can listen to the podcast here. I’d love to hear what you think: https://bit.ly/3Q33cei #tothetop

"You are not alone in your struggle..." - Jon Macaskill Episode 113: https://lnkd.in/eY4P5Psp #LeadDad #parenting #parentsunite

Parenting is definitely a journey of highs and hurdles. Dive into the world of fatherhood with these top dad-recommended reads. From practical tips to heartfelt reflections, these books are a beacon of guidance and support for every dad out there. #LeadDad #FatherhoodJourney #TopDadReads For more great Dad Tips check out our Lead Dad Library: https://lnkd.in/ePk273y2