When Your Little Girl Starts Growing Up: A Dad's Guide to Puberty

If you're raising a daughter, chances are you've already noticed something surprising about parenting girls: nobody really prepares dads for puberty.

One day she's building forts in the living room and asking you to play dolls. The next she's rolling her eyes, spending an hour getting ready, and caring deeply about what her friends think.

For many fathers, this stage brings a mix of pride, confusion, worry, and even grief. You may feel awkward discussing periods, uncomfortable with her physical changes, or unsure how to connect with her as she becomes more independent.

Here's what I want you to know:

Your daughter needs you during puberty—not less than before, but often more.

Why This Topic Matters to Me

I know this professionally, but I also know it personally.

Growing up, my father worked incredibly hard. He was a Snap-On Tools salesman for 35 years and spent long days providing for our family. My mom did mo...

Why Shame Has No Place in Sex Education: Fear Isn’t the Answer

Sex is everywhere these days. It’s in our shows, music, and daily conversations—even if we don’t always realize it. Yet despite this cultural presence, many of us still wrestle with shame, confusion, and misinformation around sexuality. The truth is, most of us didn’t grow up with honest, supportive sex education. What we received was more about control than care, more about fear than trust. Sadly, many young people today are facing even fewer opportunities to learn, as schools across the country scale back or erase meaningful sex education.

It’s time we say this out loud: shame is not a good tactic in sex education. It doesn’t prevent harm. It doesn’t protect kids. It leaves scars.

How Fear and Shame Shaped Sex Education

Think back to your own sex education—if you had any at all. Chances are it was awkward, limited, and full of warnings. For some, it was framed entirely around what not to do: don’t have sex before m...