21/06/2026
A BIG shout out today to all the fathers who have shown up in all the ways they have known how to for their children, despite their own traumas, neurodivergence, adverse childhood experiences, their own mental health struggles, anxiety, addictive traits or childhood addiction in their families. For the men that give to their kids all they didn’t have. Who laugh and make light of life even when they are breaking inside. For the men who try to be strong for their partners, their children, their elderly parents alongside trying so hard to heal themselves or hold themselves with no one seeing their needs.
A big shout out to all the men that lovingly raised another man’s child with such love and tenderness, even if at times they struggle with all the feels around what that means, or with the ‘ex’. For all the shouts “you’re not my Dad” and taking it on the chin.
For all the men who are bearing the brunt of LOTs of their partners father wounds, who hold the distrust, the rage, the cold shoulders of being triggered by that wound. For the men that hold with their hands and their hearts and see beyond the wounded ways, in that moment.
For all the men that love kids, that work with such care for kids, that stand for kids, that protect kids and that empower them. For all the fathers that had no father yet show up as one in the most amazing ways, despite being clunky and often getting it wrong are willing to learn and try again
Many many Men get a really bad rap in this world and for all the right reasons - yet there also needs to be acknowledgment , praise, honour and respect for all the beautiful ways men show up..
I see you in the streets caring about people, I see you in the parks playing, I see you in ‘ lunching out’ and tending to your partner and the kids, in the supermarkets shopping for the family and staying calm with wingey kids, in the ways you show devotion that is rarely recognised. I see you working all the hours to provide for your family with very little left over for you, yet knowing how proud you feel to be able to do this. For all the men (dads or not)whose hearts are big and open and playful as f**k, I see you and thank you ❤️
