top of page
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.
Search
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
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
bottom of page