[twitter]Dads… Broadcast Times:
*documentary channel – Monday, June 17 @ 9pm ET
*CBC News Network – Saturday, June 22 @ 7pm ET, Sunday, June 23 @11pm ET
What would happen if you took a camera and did video diaries of what it’s like to be a Dad? We can read the blogs to understand the stories and emotions about what it means to be a modern father, but there’s something about seeing someone tell their story. When you can see the tears, here the fear and worry, understand the difficult circumstances, and watch the pride of a Father as he talks about his son as a parent, the feeling is richer.
“You had to be biologically created through surrogacy, and then adopted by me. That’s how badly I wanted to be a Father to you.”
Dads… is a documentary that revolves around 7 dads from the UK, New York, and Vancouver. Each was given a Flip video camera and asked to share their stories about what it means to be a Dad. They speak, diary style to the camera, while also taking you on a tour of their parenting lives.
There are single dads, older dads, younger dads, stay at home dads, and busy working dads. There’s even a gay, divorced dad. And that’s where this documentary about Fathers starts.
In the beginning, we meet Asher and his father, Derek. There’s is a crushing story of a same-sex couple that divorces and we learn that Derek, a Dad who is a Dad in every sense of the word, doesn’t have any legal or biological claims to his son and must start the process of adoption.
“You had to be biologically created through surrogacy, and then adopted by me,” Derek emotionally confesses. “That’s how badly I wanted to be a Father to you.”
How’s that for modern parenting?
Vancouver bartending Dad, David, has a son named Asher, as well. The film opens with Asher talking about his favorite things in a language only a Dad who is present with his kids can translate.
Asher likes popsicles, and boobies. Awesome.
We meet Cameron, who has been a stay-at-home Dad for the past 3 years after he lost his job and his watching his family’s line of credit reach it’s limit as they struggle to make ends meet. He’s emotional about his situation, and shows that Moms aren’t the only ones who cry on the first day of kindergarten.
“Holding this big boy’s, but still my baby’s hands. It’s so cliche, but all these moments are cliche for a reason,” he says. “Parenthood is stages of letting go.”
The entire hourlong documentary is just a lesson in affirmation. It tells of Dads who care, who try, who learn, who understand, who struggle. It tells us that we are not alone.
Greg spent a dozen years in the military working on submarines and missed a lot of the moments with his first son. Being underwater so much, the joy of sun, and wind, and sky was something he always sought. He then described fatherhood as “feeling the sun from within yourself.”
“If all dads had this kind of time to spend with their kids at a park we’d have some interestingly different kids.”
That’s it, isn’t it?
With a new marriage and kids, Greg has a chance to try and be a Father differently this time. “Now my passion is to be with my kids. If all dads had this kind of time to spend with their kids at a park we’d have some interestingly different kids.”
And that’s what we’re doing. This generation that has been called Dad 2.0 is taking the time.
It was a moment when Cameron, from the UK, had his own Father offer up a generational comparison, that it all comes full circle.
“I wasn’t as good as you guys, I wasn’t as relaxed about it,” he confesses. “Often dads will do that as if they’re just helping out with mom, not that they’re taking the full responsibility themselves. Your generation is better at that. The traditional role of the dad has been eroded over time, for better.”
Have a watch of the trailer for Dads… and then set your PVR and make sure you watch it. You won’t necessarily learn anything from the film, but you will get the confidence to know that trying your best, being present, and changing a diaper does not make you an outlier.
I think it’s safe to say all Dads love popsicles and boobies.
Dads… Broadcast Times:
*documentary channel – Monday, June 17 @ 9pm ET
*CBC News Network – Saturday, June 22 @ 7pm ET, Sunday, June 23 @11pm ET
About Dads…
Produced by The Sound Films, in association with Tabula Dada Productions, the CBC and documentary channel, the documentary is an effort to discover the true experience of contemporary fatherhood and celebrate real men, real dads. Dads… is directed by Dave Rees, head of The Sound Films.
Thanks to Maguire PR for supporting Team Diabetes Canada in exchange for this sponsored content.
Images via Tabula Dada