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Scott Beller, Editor and Contributing Writer
Since February 2020, the DADDYING blog has provided weekly commentary, personal narratives, reviews, research, poetry, and other creative expressions from a diverse group of colleagues, guest writers, and experts to promote the benefits of lifelong Dad involvement to kids, families, and communities.
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Processing My Son's Graduation from High School...in Poetic Verse
Poet, author, and Daddying Film Festival & Forum (D3F) Dadvisor Hakim Bellamy commemorates his son's high school graduation in the best way he knows how: in poetic Dad verse.
Allan Shedlin
2 days ago
Go West, Young Man
Guest writer Josh Givens, a single Dad, hopes to protect and maintain closeness while his son grows and learns to explore the world.
Allan Shedlin
Jul 8, 2025
How to Protect Our Tweens and Teens from False Messages
Psychologist Jacqueline Toner equips parents/grandparents to help children identify and debunk misinformation and disinformation.
Allan Shedlin
Mar 5, 2025
Dear Dads, You're Neither Damned nor Doomed
Allan Shedlin explains that while growing up with family trauma makes becoming a good dad more challenging, it isn't a certainty.
Allan Shedlin
Oct 30, 2024
My Grandson Made Me Do It: Refreshing Our Focus on Family-School Partnerships
Allan laments the focus on standardized testing and urges a return to basics of learning facilitated by stronger family-school partnerships.
Allan Shedlin
Aug 21, 2024
How the Grinch stole my heart
Washington Post book critic and dad to a special needs child Ron Charles shares his affinity for Dr. Seuss' iconic holiday classic story.
Allan Shedlin
Dec 20, 2023
The Queen of Goodbye
Writer Jane Ehrenfeld shares how she and her daughter with special needs are challenged to cope with constant back-to-school changes.
Allan Shedlin
Sep 13, 2023
Embrace the Wobble
Dr. Anthony Fleg writes about his dilemma of being a coach, teacher and dad as he helps his daughter learn to ride without training wheels.
Allan Shedlin
Sep 6, 2023
It's That CAMPAIGNful Time of Year – Do You Know Where Your Kids Are Emotionally?
DCG Founder Allan Shedlin prepares parents to talk with kids about the 2022 mid-term elections.
Allan Shedlin
Oct 12, 2022
Time and Babies Fly While Daddy Hopes To Stay Connected
Daddying blog editor Scott Beller celebrates his oldest daughter's birthday by applauding her achievements and letting her fly solo.
Allan Shedlin
Sep 22, 2022
The Incident: A Wreck At the Intersection of Toxic Masculinity and Race
DCG DADvisor Neil Tift shares an old story that's still relevant in today's conversation about race, masculinity, and how we raise our sons.
Allan Shedlin
Apr 13, 2022
Seasons of Good Cheer: Be the Supportive Fan Your Kids Need
Daddying Editor Scott Beller remembers his late mother Mary and misses her unconditional support on her birthday.
Allan Shedlin
Dec 10, 2021
Spoiler: “Learning Loss” Is A COVIDious Myth
DCG Founder Allan Shedlin explains how "learning loss" is a COVIDious myth & teachers/parents should focus on kids' pandemic learning gains.
Allan Shedlin
Nov 4, 2021
Annie's Poem: A Child Copes With Pandemic Anxiety
9-year-old Annie has turned to poetry during the COVID pandemic to help express and cope with the difficult things she's been feeling.
Allan Shedlin
Oct 28, 2021
Zoom to Classroom: How to Prepare Your Child For Returning to School In the New Normal
Author and youth rights advocate Anna Gilchrist provides parents with tips on how to help children adjust to returning to school in person.
Allan Shedlin
Aug 26, 2021
How To Wrangle Those End-of-Summer Butterflies In COVIDious Times
DCG's Allan Shedlin helps parents talk to kids about why it's normal to feel anxious at start of a school year, especially during a pandemic
Allan Shedlin
Aug 10, 2021
How My Students Came to Know Me As "Daddy of the School"
DCG founder and former elementary school principal Allan Shedlin explains how a former student gave him the title "daddy of the school."
Allan Shedlin
Jul 21, 2021
First and Foremost It’s About the Children
DADvocacy can rightly be viewed as encouraging enhanced partnerships between fathers and mothers.
Allan Shedlin
Mar 4, 2021
Will You Pleeeeease Be My Daddy?
As often happens when we do not get what we need at home, I looked elsewhere.
Allan Shedlin
Feb 25, 2021
It's No Surprise: Crying Can Be A Dad Strength
the birth of one’s first child often provides the chink that breaks through the masculine armor that has formed throughout a boy's life...
Allan Shedlin
Feb 11, 2021
Processing My Son's Graduation from High School...in Poetic Verse
Poet, author, and Daddying Film Festival & Forum (D3F) Dadvisor Hakim Bellamy commemorates his son's high school graduation in the best way he knows how: in poetic Dad verse.
Allan Shedlin
2 days ago
It's Graduation Day for Daddy Too
Dr. Anthony Fleg faces the next daddying phase as he wishes his daughter well on the occasion of her high school graduation.
Allan Shedlin
May 27
More than Your Ordinary Film Festival Metrics of Success
Daddying Film Festival & Forum (D3F) founder Allan Shedlin explains why the six-year-old festival's metrics of success are necessarily different from thousands of other annual festivals worldwide. D3F favors the qualitative over the quantitative, and he believes those are the metrics that best reflect the festival's success in achieving its daddying mission.
Allan Shedlin
May 20
More Thoughts About Entering the Kingdom of Great Granddaddying
Allan has hope and many thoughts to share as he stands on the precipice of becoming a Great Granddaddy.
Allan Shedlin
May 13
What is the Dad Difference?
With her new book The Dad Difference publishing this month, educator and father engagement specialist Dr. Deborah Higdon joins the Daddying blog to discuss the proven benefits of having dads more involved in school classrooms with their children.
Allan Shedlin
May 6
Processing My Greatest Birthday Gift Ever
Daddying Film Festival & Forum founder Allan Shedlin reacts to news he'll soon be a great grandfather.
Allan Shedlin
May 1
Being a Dad-at-School is One of the Many Benefits of Being a Work-At-Home Dad
On Earth Day 2026, Daddying blog editor Scott Beller is reminded that being present in his daughters' classrooms over the years brought him as much joy as being there for them as a work-at-home Dad.
Allan Shedlin
Apr 23
Our Nest is Half Full
Daddying blog editor Scott Beller chooses to look at his imminent empty nest as half full.
Allan Shedlin
Apr 16
Why Not Speak the Truth to Our Kids Through History?
Daddying blog editor Scott Beller suggests letting the truth of history be the guide when talking with our kids about important topics that too often have been politicized and obscured with misinformation.
Allan Shedlin
Apr 9
After 20 Years, We're at the Right Place at the Right Time and Still Having A Ball
On the occasion of his 20th wedding anniversary, Daddying blog editor Scott Beller reflects on how being in the right place at the right time can be life-changing.
Allan Shedlin
Apr 3
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