Fathers Are ‘Still’ Talking

Almost a year ago, Fathers Are Talking formed. On a monthly basis, a group of Chester fathers gather and talk about fatherhood (or is it fatherdom?)

By design, there is nothing formal about the group. The invitation to join a conversation is open to anyone as there are no members, just a group of fathers who find value in talking about fathers.

Reluctantly, I haven’t been in town on many of the days the fathers have met, but I had 20 minutes to catch the gathering held on Wednesday. 

We usually meet in Steve Fischer’s office at the Chester Housing Authority  Headquarters and talk about anything that’s on our hearts. Since I could only stay for a short while, I was asked to chime in first and I talked about the loss of my father.

Yet again, the power and value of men talking brought healing, comfort and knowledge as we discussed what it means and how it feels to lose a father.

Although the loosely formed group has no firm agenda other than to share, there is a desire to pull young fathers into the conversation. We don’t want to play the role of mentor but believe that young fathers can learn from the conversations of older fathers who openly express open wounds, mistakes, success, confusion, challenges, and the blessings of being a father. And, we want to learn from the young fathers. 

Plug: The Odyssey Project announces the inaugural Faces of Our Fathers Film Festival scheduled June 14 - June 15, 2013 in Chester, PA at The Booker T. Washington Center (611 Central Ave). A limited, open call for submissions to The Faces of Our Fathers Film Festival begun on April 15, 2013. For more information call 267.318.0117 or email ulysses@theodysseyproject.biz.