Stories – Fathers Matter

How fatherhood impacts mental health

"Being a dad has been a mixed bag," admits Andile, a father navigating the complex journey of parenthood. "The initial joy is soon replaced with physical and mental exhaustion as the late nights, and early mornings, take their toll."

How to deal with a father wound

Nkosinathi grew up up without knowing his clan name. This missing piece of his heritage was a result of fatherlessness, and caused him much pain. Read about how he dealt with this father wound and found a way to move forward with healing.

A new narrative for fatherhood in the Garden Route

“Imagine the difference we can make in the Garden Route if we join hands..." This sentiment from Heartlines representative Debbie Bruce was at the heart of the Fathers Matter Ambassadors Conference in George.

How to teach your child the value of honesty

Do all children lie? When should you as a parent or guardian intervene? And, most importantly, how do you handle a dishonest child?

Why women matter in the Fathers Matter story

Stats SA reports that 42% of children in South Africa live in single-mom households. So how can we say that fathers matter? We believe that encouraging men to step up as active, positive and present role models for children, will benefit women too.

“Are we a seed in our father before we're in our mother's womb?”

Fathers Matter wasn’t created to invalidate the important role that mothers play. We want to highlight and support the positive and active role fathers and men play in the lives of children, in order to lessen the risks linked to the absence of fathers or positive male role models.

Heartlines Fathers Matter recently partnered with the City of Joburg to facilitate a critical conversation about the role that positive, active and present male role models and fathers can play in children’s lives.

Forging a new path for fatherhood in the Eastern Cape

Honest conversations and creating safe spaces for reflection helped men in the Eastern Cape to take important steps towards re-writing the story of fatherhood for children in the region.

A bigger wallet doesn’t make you a better father

As much as we’d like to think more money would solve all our problems, children would rather have a dad who is involved in their lives than one who sends money but doesn’t know them.

How to overcome co-parenting challenges for your child’s well-being

Co-parenting Series: Part 5

Tshepiso Matentjie, a psychologist and life coach, talks to us about how the impact of unresolved conflicts between co-parents on children can be lessened.

Common challenges when trying to make co-parenting work

Co-parenting Series: Part 4

Educational psychologist and life coach, Tshepiso Matentjie offers some important insights for fathers and mothers who are trying to make co-parenting work.

'Fatherhood is a life or death issue'

When men look at their own childhood experiences and create space for sharing and healing, it frees them up to be a positive father influence for future generations. This was the message from the latest Fathers Matter Ambassadors Conference in the Western Cape.

Fathers Matter