Photo Gallery Alrich Smith addresses dads and members of the FISD counseling department at Daddy's Playbook event at FISD CTE Center.

The men who took time out of their busy Monday night schedules to attend the Daddy’s Playbook tailgate event didn’t really have football on their minds.

A group with extremely different backgrounds, the small group of men shared information about how they got along with their own fathers and how they are parenting today. Speaker Alrich Smith of Dallas ISD – who lost his own father as a small child – facilitated the event and offered encouragement and insights into what father’s face in today’s society. Issues of respect, perception and society’s views of the importance of fathers all play factors in the relationships fathers and their children share.

Smith asked participants to name favorite sitcoms from their childhoods. Top of the list were The Cosby Show, The Brady Bunch, Good Times and Leave It to Beaver.  Though some had never thought of the characters Ward Cleaver and James Evans in the same context, Smith pointed out that they both were strong father figures who loved their families and were treated with respect. Ward Cleaver was active in decisions about his children.  Smith noted that in spite of living in a ghetto – James Evans constantly tried to provide for his family and was respected for his efforts.  Noting various sitcoms, the group agreed that today’s media often presents fathers as bumbling or weak, almost unnecessary. That perception is a very strong influence on today’s families, Smith warned.

Smith asked the fathers to discuss what they think fathers bring to a family environment. He listened to some of the participant’s current issues and was delighted to discover many of them were imposing No Pass, No Play rules in their homes. He discussed the different expectations children have for their relationships with their fathers, as compared to mothers. Several dads noted that they share parenting duties with their wives because of hectic schedules. Discussion included information about communication, follow-through and commitment. This event was one of many parenting events planned for this school year. If you are interested in being alerted to special parenting events please email Patrice Dunn at DunnR@friscoisd.org.