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African American father and his little g

MISSION

To Encourage and Equip fathers to be present and intentional in their child's life through purposeful thoughts, planned activities, and intentional moments.

For all fathers to find the encouragement and support they need to be present and intentional daily.

From our Intentional Activities and Intentional Moments lists to our Additional Resources of both recommended organizations and articles, we hope you find the support you need.

Man Using a Tablet

Resources for Men to improve their own body, mind, and actions with the intent to then be able to better Father their children.

 

From our Recommended Reading list to better understanding your financial situation, Men's Resources provides outlets to help.

The Encouragement Articles are intended simply for that, Fatherhood Encouragement. Thoughts, triumphs, advice, and struggles written to encourage fathers. Sometimes, just knowing others struggle the same way, in the same things, is encouraging. Other times, reading about Father / Son or Daughter victories is the smile needed for the day.  

Image by Tyler Nix

Support The Intentional Father by visiting our Store!

All proceeds go straight towards furthering our mission by developing resources and reaching fathers to encourage and equip them to be present and intentional with their children. 

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Encouragement Articles

Fatherhood Thoughts

March 14, 2024

Children are constant.

The minuscule time void of active requests is spent following the trail of crumbs, clothes, sticky surfaces, and scattered toys.

When those children are a speed walking one year old baby in diapers, an ever hungry but only eats two bites of anything you give him in-process potty-training two year old, and a six year old with the energy of a thousand monkeys, it's constant chaos.

As a parent, it is all too easy to get lost in the head above water, day to day tasks, chores, needs of others, you name it.

At the end of the day all you want to do is sink into the couch and scroll mindlessly only to wake from the senseless trance even more drained.

After days, weeks, months of constant, it builds up.
No matter how much patience you have you become quick to anger.
No matter if you are sleeping through the night you feel sluggish.
No matter the size of your servants heart, your selfishness breaks through.
No matter if you desire to be present and intentional with your children, your actions prove otherwise.

On your phone for 30 minutes while you sit on the toilet isn't doing any good.
TikTok or Netflix before bed won't cut it either.

What's needed is Intentional Restoration.

- Chad Vrla
Founder of TheIntentionalFather.com

Read Full Article at:
https://www.theintentionalfather.com/post/how-do-you-restore

#bepresent #BeIntentional #theintentionalfather

#parentlife #parenting #parentinglife #parentingtips #parenthood #father #fatherhood #parents #dads #dadblog #parentingadvice #firsttimeparent #positiveparenting #fathertobe #parenttobe

February 20, 2024

In a matter of two and a half weeks we have all of our three children’s birthdays.

That is a lot for our family to wrangle.

We have created a lot of fun traditions. We have made this unique situation our own as best we can.
It has been a wild run, I say a circus for comedic effect. But I stand by that as there are animals, poop, entertainment, laughing then crying children, peanuts, and intermittent guest appearances by clowns. I wouldn’t change it for the world though.

We are blessed.

Read Full Article:
https://www.theintentionalfather.com/post/birthday-journey-and-buddies

- Jerod Post
Contributor at TheIntentionalFather.com

#bepresent #BeIntentional #theintentionalfather

#positiveparenting #firsttimeparent #dadadvice #dadvice #parentingadvice #dadblog #fatherhoodunplugged #dads #fatherhood #parenthood #fatherhoodmatters #parenting

January 30, 2024

This is a different type of encouragement.

This is not light material.

I do not write with advice or personal experience in this situation and will not be long winded.

I write to explain the situation as I can, the feelings about it, and the inspiration of the family that is going through it.

I speak about a friend and colleague that has recently had to bear the hellish occurrence of losing her child. I wanted to speak about this to challenge myself and all to be more present and intentional with our children.

We truly never know what tomorrow will bring.

Continue Reading - https://www.theintentionalfather.com/post/life-is-precious

On the toughest days hold them to you. Tell them you love them. Be thankful for the gift of family.

Make the best of the gifts we are given.

- Jerod Post
Contributor at TheIntentionalFather.com

#bepresent #BeIntentional #theintentionalfather

#parenting #parenthood #father #fatherhood #parents #motherhood #motherslove #fatherslove

January 9, 2024

Gratitude is something I believe in deeply. We have been given a gift to live in this time, place, and country. I am a firm believer in the perspective of gratitude. For just fifty years prior, it was not like this. Right now in many other countries, it is not like this for millions of people.

To me it is a battle between providing the best I can for my children, but I remain guarded at creating spoiled kids that just expect the finer things as that is what comes to their doorstep often.

Take the time to be thankful for yourselves gents. Take the time to be thankful for your spouse. Give thanks for your trike motors, ankle biters, curtain climbers of your homes. As they grow, teach them to be grateful for what they receive and what is around them. Growing with a perspective of gratitude in all things will improve their interaction with the world around them.

Happy new year gentleman. I hope it finds you and yours very well.

- Jerod Post
Contributor at TheIntentionalFather.com

Read Full Article:
https://www.theintentionalfather.com/post/the-struggling-with-teaching-gratitude

#bepresent #BeIntentional #theintentionalfather

#gratitude #gratitudechallenge #gratitudeattitude #parenting #parentlife #parenthood #father #fatherhood #parentingadvice #positiveparenting

December 21, 2023

Time and again, my children have proven to me they are more capable than I thought.

As parents, we don’t want to exude more energy.
Normally, it's us holding them back.

So we do the task ourselves while they stand aside.
We cook while they watch TV.
We interfere when they are climbing.
We make excuses instead of playing one more game of tag.

All the while not allowing them the experience to do and learn.

Slow down.
Allow your child to do.
Allow them to spill and help clean up.
Allow them to fall, realizing it didn't hurt as bad as expected, then try again.
Allow them to fail, providing guidance the next go around.

Challenge yourself to get uncomfortable by allowing them the opportunity of experience.

Children are more capable than we allow, let's stop holding them back.

- Chad Vrla
Founder of TheIntentionalFather.com

Read Full Encouragement Article here:
https://www.theintentionalfather.com/post/children-are-more-capable-than-we-allow

#bepresent #BeIntentional #theintentionalfather

#parenting #fatherhoodmatters #parentingtips #parenthood #father #fatherhood #parents #dadblog #parentingadvice #positiveparenting

November 29, 2023

Thank you to ShoutoutDFW for the interview and opportunity to be featured on your site!

For those in or near the Dallas / Fort Worth area in Texas, ShoutoutDFW highlights and features local small business owners. There are many wonderful entrepreneurs that have been featured, and I am honored to be considered among them.

Thank you.

- Chad Vrla
Founder of TheIntentionalFather.com

Full Interview Here:
https://shoutoutdfw.com/meet-chad-vrla-founder-of-theintentionalfather-com/

#shoutoutdfw

Intentional Moments

Create an email account for your child. Not for them to use, but for you to send them messages, memories, thoughts, or notes throughout their life. Then, when you are ready, give them the email and password!

Setup Email Account

Be intentional in celebrating little accomplishments. Remember that what might look like a small hill to you could be a mountain to your young child.

Celebrate Little Victories

Praying together does not have to be only before bedtime or a meal, nor does it have to be long and drawn out. It can be at any moment, as simple as "Thank you, Lord, for this day."

Little Prayers

Intentional Activities

The next time you do a vehicle check, bring out a stool for your children to observe what you are doing.

Car Work

The fun way to learn physics with your child! MEL Science - Physics creates hands-on physics experiments, VR lessons, and live physics classes with science teachers.

MEL Science - Physics

May sound simple, but find a local park to have fun with your kids! Be outside, run, swing, climb, be a kid again and play along with them!

Play at Local Park

Go to the garage and/or shop, show your kids a tool, how it works, and of course with safety in mind, allow them to use the tool!

Shop Sessions

Learn along with your kids! MEL Science - Chemistry offers hands-on experiments, VR lessons, and live chemistry classes with science teachers.

MEL Science - Chemistry

Make popcorn, dim the lights, buy the large box of your childs favorite candy, put your phone away, and watch their favorite movie together!

Movie Night

Add in learning to your quality time with MEL Science - STEM! MEL Science creates hands-on science projects, interactive augmented reality activities, and live classes with professional teachers.

MEL Science - STEM

Fun, easy, and exciting way to break out of your norm and enjoy family time! Get down on your hands and feet and get tangled up with your kids!

Twister

Have some fun in the sun with a water balloon fight! Get in on the action and spend some fun, quality time with your kids.

Water Balloon Fight
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