Since the first part of this topic was written, there has been an increase in the number of resources on the Internet for fathers.
The site The Dad Zone has articles on just about every topic related to being a father, particularly being a new dad. Down near the bottom of the index, there is a "Community" section that includes an article for Stay-at-Home Dads and another one for Blended Families. You can also sign up for a free newsletter.
If you visit the Single and Custodial Father's Network (SCFN), you can find information and supportive resources for fathers and their families. There is an address at the site for anyone interested in writing for more details, or wanting to join the non-profit organization.
A delightful letter from an adult stepdaughter looking back at her relationship with her stepfather is at Thanks, Mike!. In addition, the web page offers links to other stepparents sites and offers contact with a discussion group.
There is an unusual article by Tom Wohlmut at Thanks to a Stepfather on Father's Day. For Father's Day, he wrote an open letter to his daughter's stepfather, thanking him for loving and caring for the child. The two men don't know each other except on a very casual basis, and don't have conversations, but they share the joy of raising the girl. The author has seen his daughter adjust to having a stepfather; as it happens, she also has a stepmother, and it took time and patience for the changes to work out.
A stepdad describes his reactions to joining the family, and the children's reaction to him at A Stepparent's Personal Perspective. He also discusses the mixed feelings he had about his stepchildren, and the difficulties he was facing because of their experience with their biological father.
There is an excellent and detailed discussion of stepfathers at Hope for Stepfathers. Presenting a somewhat different way of looking at the role, the author suggests that a stepfather is "more like a mentor than a father." The stepfather is a helper, giving children perspective and becoming "an important source of strength as they grow and mature." This is followed by an elaboration on the following five way of easing the tension of being a stepfather:
- Keep encouraging the children's relationship with their biological father.
Pretending he doesn't exist, or trying to ignore him, is going to backfire.
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