6632 Telegraph Rd,
Ste 110
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301
248-559-DADS
info@dadsofmichigan.org
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DADS and MOMS of Michigan eNewsletter This is a brief report of some of the many activities going on around the state and country. Our main events for this month have been in Lansing, Robb MacKenzie’s bike marathon, and helping Moms and Dads. We also welcome some new contacts in Levering, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and the Traverse City area. There is a lot more to report so check the Dads and Moms of Michigan web site and the Message Forum for the latest news. For information call 248-559-DADS (3237. Sign up for our eNewsletter at www.dadsofmichigan.org
Oakland County DADS OF MICHIGAN FAMILY FORUM Monroe County Wednesday, 7:30 - 9 p.m., Regular meetings will continue every subsequent Wednesday evening at the same time. The meeting place is Bobby's Kitchen, 15391 S. Dixie Hwy. (Corner of S. Dixie and Dunbar). Local contact information: Pat McElligott, SE Michigan Regional Director 734-240-0225 mcelligott@ameritech.net Wayne County 3rd Tuesday of the month from 6:45 pm to 8:15 pm, Christus Victor Church, 25535 Ford Rd. (West of Telegraph, East of Beech-Daly), Dearborn Hts., 48127, Contact Fred Owens (313) 955-0913 dadshelpdads@yahoo.com or http://home.earthlink.net/~dadshelpdads Kent County Education Programs For other locations and information, GO: http://www.dadsofmichigan.org/events.html
Stepfamily Association of America Stepmothers (and Stepfathers too) If you decide to marry a parent with children, there are some things you have to accept as a reality. It is part of the baggage parents bring with them into the marriage. To begin with, children will want to spend time alone with their parent without your presence. Many times the parent will want to put their children's needs before yours. Standing the background is a biological mother or father. She or he could have very strong feelings about you that have nothing to do with you as a person or stepparent. The biological parent could be jealous of your time with the children, fear your discipline, hate their ex, and distrust your motives. However unfair or unjustified these problems appear, you and your spouse have to deal them while trying to not get the children caught in the middle.
Many of the issues effecting military people are unique. This site will provide resources and news for our military community. Federal law addresses the complex issues of jurisdiction that occur in military child custody matters. At Clement Law Center we are familiar with the details and application of these laws, including:
If you need information or representation regarding a military divorce or child custody law, contact the Clement Law Center. We help families who are separated by military duty.
We all know fathers who are trying to relive their youth sports days through their children, or who are trying to prove something about themselves by the way their players perform. (Some of us are those fathers.) Baseball and other sports provide priceless opportunities to help teach our children so many lessons that will be important throughout their lives: self-discipline, dealing with pressure, adjusting to change, respecting others, overcoming setbacks, not giving up, and so on. As involved fathers, we can play a big role in helping them learn these things, but we need to regularly check our attitudes and our motivation. As David Allen Smith and Joseph Aversa suggest in their book, The Ballgame of Life, staying positive will go a long way in allowing kids to learn those lessons: "The world of most children is already full of people telling them what they cannot do and say--all day, every day. The last thing they need or want is another critic when they are trying to have fun playing a game with their friends.... Yes, we do have a responsibility to teach the kids the game. But there are ways to teach and correct constructively and with good humor that will go a long way towards teaching your little Babe Ruths how to play and respect the game."
To Think About ...As fathers, it is our role to love, honor, and respect the mothers of our children. (For divorced or non-custodial dads, love may be a challenging part of the equation, but showing respect and honor to our children’s mother still has a positive impact.) We cannot settle for marriages that are just OK; we must work together as spouses to provide a positive model of love and commitment, and create a secure and stable home for our children. As author Gary Chapman points out, it’s important to “speak your wife’s language” when you express love, honor, and respect. You might bring her flowers when she’d rather have a hug, or buy tickets to a movie when she would rather sit and talk. The five languages are: quality time, words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service, and physical touch. When you understand how your wife expresses and receives love, you can be much more confident that your efforts as a husband are making a difference in your relationship. (Learning the various love languages can help us with our children, as well.)
Your financial assistance is vitally needed to help us meet our goals via the above projects. We ask you to please consider Dads of Michigan among your corporate and individual charitable contributions. Dads of Michigan is a volunteer, tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and qualifies for tax deductible contributions. Major credit cards are also now accepted. DADS and MOMS of Michigan Code of Ethics and Business Conduct.
"Fathers are responsible parents too...because the best parent is both parents" |
