Impact Update
“I Would Have Eaten My Shoe” — And Other Things Dads Learn with a Little Help
You know you’re hearing something profound when a father jokes, “I would’ve eaten my shoe if someone hadn’t told me better.” That’s how Todd describes the moment he realized how easy it would’ve been to fumble one of the most important conversations of his daughter’s life—telling her she was adopted.
He and his wife didn’t know where to start. They had adopted their daughter Tegan through foster care as an infant, but as she got older, the question loomed: How do we tell her? When? What words do we use? Then they heard Jackie from Parenting Matters speak at a workshop. Her insight made sense. Her compassion stood out. And her timing, as Todd puts it, was divine.
Just two days after Jackie first visited their home through our Chosen Families Program, Tegan innocently mentioned to her mom, “Remember when I was in your belly?” And thanks to Jackie’s thoughtful guidance—use gentle, age-appropriate language; let your child ask questions; don’t say “your mother gave you up”—that conversation became a beautiful beginning instead of a confusing one.
Another dad, Joe, came to Parenting Matters with his own story. When he married his wife Leyla, she already had two children. Joe was able to adopt the oldest, Jaden, and began learning how to be a dad, despite never having one himself.
“I was nervous. I had no idea what I was doing,” he shares. That’s when his Aunt Barbara told him about Parenting Matters. With the support of their Parent Educator, Kelly, Joe and Lila committed to weekly sessions. “At first, it was tough. I made a lot of mistakes. But I kept showing up. We both did. And over time, I started looking forward to it.”
The results? Joe became a more confident parent—and, in his own words, a better husband, too.
Eventually, Jackie became their Parent Educator, continuing the journey as their children grew and parenting challenges evolved. Joe reflects, “The better I get as a dad, the more I realize I still have a lot to learn.” His story is proof that great parenting doesn’t come from perfection—it comes from the courage to grow.
These families aren’t unique because they asked for help. They’re remarkable because they were brave enough to accept it—and to apply it, week after week, conversation after conversation.
And that’s where you come in.
Because of your support, dads like Joe and Todd don’t have to figure it out alone. Families navigating adoption, blended households, or just the everyday chaos of raising kids can do so with confidence, knowing someone is walking beside them.
The quiet power of these stories lies not in what Parenting Matters does, but in what our families become—and none of it happens without you.
So thank you—for helping fathers rewrite their stories, for building stronger families, and for showing that every child deserves to be raised with love, understanding, and pride in who they are.