And Also With You Christian Motherhood Taboos: Fatherhood is a Joy, Not Babysitting
Oct 20, 2025
Luke Zara, priest and parish leader, reflects on fatherhood with pastoral insight. Jonathan McManus Dale, priest for children and father of two, shares playful parenting perspectives. They talk about cultural pressures on parenting, how hands-on fathering reshapes faith and images of God, rising father involvement, the joy of play and presence, and practical encouragement for dads.
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Dads Showing Up At Pediatric Visits
- Jonathan and Lizzie's pediatrician noticed far more dads attending appointments than in her early career, which gave Lizzie hope.
- Jonathan often accompanies the girls to medical visits and handles many practical tasks despite initial anxiety about baby care.
Provider Identity Shapes Fatherhood
- Men are often socialized to find identity primarily in work and provision rather than caregiving.
- That cultural script explains why many fathers are less visible in routine child care even today.
Practical Prep And Parish Support
- Jonathan was nervous about diaper changes so they hired a childcare expert to teach parenting basics before the baby arrived.
- Family and parish supported them with notes on diapers and encouragement during the early postpartum period.