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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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We Don’t Have Any Other Dads Coming In: From One Volunteer to a National Movement
NAFFS founder Keith Schumacher writes about the need to rewire the way schools think about and engage Dads and other male caregivers.
Allan Shedlin
Jul 1, 2025
Back-To-School Nights with Dad(dy)
DCG DADvisor Dr. Anthony Fleg writes on the importance of dads being there for their kids, even for Back-to-School Night.
Allan Shedlin
Sep 4, 2024
What Do You Want For Your Birthday And Other Tough Questions
Our editor celebrates his daughter's birthday with an eye towards the near future, all the questions it raises, and being there for answers.
Allan Shedlin
Aug 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 Can Parents Prepare Kids for Ever-Larger End-of-Summer Butterflies?
As the new school year begins in a chaotic world, how can parents calm kids' seemingly larger, more plentiful end-of-summer butterflies?
Allan Shedlin
Aug 15, 2023
One Useful Weapon All Parents Should Have On Hand
Daddying editor Scott Beller wants more parents to know about the dangers of fentanyl and that Narcan is the best defense against overdose.
Allan Shedlin
Mar 10, 2023
Our Kids' Halloween Frights Should Not Last A Lifetime
DCG founder Allan Shedlin envisions a post-Uvalde world where Halloween frights only come once a year for kids, teachers, and parents.
Allan Shedlin
Nov 4, 2022
When Will We Finally Retire the Most Meaningless of All Two-Word Phrases?
In the wake of another gun violence tragedy, DCG founder Allan Shedlin confronts the most meaningless two-word combination in any language.
Allan Shedlin
Jun 1, 2022
Tackling the Rampaging Elephant in the (Class)room
Scott Beller has had enough gun violence. He takes on the GOP elephant in the room (& everywhere else) after Uvalde TX school mass shooting.
Allan Shedlin
May 26, 2022
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
Our COVIDious Crescendo
My basically-optimistic nature continues to prevail and believe that we are fitfully inching toward a decrescendo, a COVID convalescence...
Allan Shedlin
Oct 15, 2020
Nurturing the New End-of-Summer Butterflies
When the cocoon of childhood summers past opened into a more predictable fall, the emergent butterfly was able to unfurl its new wings & fly
Allan Shedlin
Sep 3, 2020
Distant Water Cannot Quench A Thirst
Nicholas Banura Aine writes about his struggles with long-distance parenting, which created deep emotional gaps with his children, one with autism, who needed his presence.
Allan Shedlin
4 days ago
Glad You're Here: A Love Note to My Youngest Daughter on Her 17th Birthday
Daddying blog editor Scott Beller writes a special note to his youngest daughter for her birthday, which coincides with back-to-school and the beginning of her high school senior year.
Allan Shedlin
Aug 28
Modern Childhood: Is The Next Generation of Kids Really The Loneliest One?
Guest writer Tessa Dodson highlights the complexity of modern childhood and offers parents practical guidance for supporting kids in building social connections through open communication, managed screentime, and unstructured play.
Allan Shedlin
Aug 19
The Dads and Sons of Summer
Poet and literary activist E. Ethelbert Miller debuts an original poem about baseball, Dads, and sons in this week's Daddying blog.
Allan Shedlin
Aug 12
I Left San Francisco for Colorado Springs. It Changed How I See Democracy
Youth Documentary Academy founder Tom Shepard writes about how he's been inspired by the diverse stories of his filmmaking students and other young people and what our country's leaders could and should learn from them.
Allan Shedlin
Jul 30
Savoring the Privilege of Lifelong Daddying
Daddying Film Festival & Forum (D3F) founder Allan Shedlin shares the joy of being a lifelong Dad, Granddad, and soon, a Great Granddad.
Allan Shedlin
Jul 30
With Our World in Metamorphosis, Those End-Of-Summer Butterflies Remain the Same
Daddying Film Festival & Forum (D3F) founder Allan Shedlin welcomes back-to-school season and those end-of-summer butterflies with an open mind and open arms.
Allan Shedlin
Jul 23
What Happened to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness?
Daddying editor Scott Beller laments the continued human rights abuses by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including murders this past week of Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo.
Allan Shedlin
Jul 16
A Dad Still Going Along for the Ride
Daddying blog editor Scott Beller embraces his evolving role as a Dad, which will always include being his daughters' safe, reliable ride home.
Allan Shedlin
Jul 10
Something to Celebrate For America's Conflicted 250th: Principles of Our Founding Daddies
Daddying Film Fest founder Allan Shedlin longs for an America that not only celebrates landmark birthdays but also adheres to the inclusive and promising ideals its "founding fathers" clearly expressed in the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution.
Allan Shedlin
Jul 1
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