Fatherhood at Its Finest
Written by Lysel Maddex
Fatherhood at Its Finest
Written by Lysel Maddex
Growing up in the country, I remember playing on my swing set on warm summer evenings, kicking my legs to get as high as I could. I was watching down the road for a dust cloud, my ear listening for the low rumble of my dad’s diesel work truck coming towards the house. Before his truck was even turning into the driveway my bare feet were bounding across our yard and the gravel drive that led to his workshop to meet him.
Back in 1990, Dr. Ken Canfield noticed a gap in American families and the need for present and involved fathers in the home. He wanted to provide resources to help fathers, research to show the importance of fathers, and to create a community for dads to go to for support. So Canfield started Fathers.com as a way to offer dads the materials and tools for them to become the person their children need them to be.
It’s important for fathers to be present in their children’s lives. Presence can have a whole host of different meanings from physically being around to truly being available to talk and listen, knowing how to take care of your child’s needs, and protecting them. But just like everyone else, dads are doing life for the first time too. That is why Canfield’s work is so important, providing resources from training modules to articles on navigating holidays, how to help with homework in a healthy way, and the importance of the father-daughter relationship.
Ted with Lysel on her wedding day, April 2025
Memories for a Lifetime
Fathers can set the tone in a home, often driving the environment of the family. The way that dads carry themselves, the relationship they have with their partner, the way they speak, and what they do, impacts their children for their whole life. Fathers have a unique opportunity to carry themselves in a way that shows their children how to be kind, caring and loving. Dads show their children what it looks like to be a partner and how to treat their spouses.
Life is messy and imperfect and dads are no exception to the rule. I have an amazing father who I’m proud to call my dad. Growing up though, I remember he rarely helped cook. Then a few years ago he started making breakfast on Saturday mornings since he woke up before anyone else. Week after week scrambled eggs with sausage and fresh brewed coffee would permeate the house. I miss those mornings. It doesn’t matter if you’re a first-time dad or seven kids deep, your children see you. They see your growth and they see the gaps. Who do you want them to see?
Lysel Maddex has lived in Kansas her whole life and gained a passion for writing both from her mom and from reading books. She currently resides in Wichita with her husband and works in marketing full time while writing for SPLURGE!
