Fathers Learn to Balance Parenting, Work

Fathers Learn to Balance Parenting, Work

Raising children has traditionally been a mother's role. But modern sociology¹ says a father's role in children's development is also important. Children abandoned and neglected by their fathers do not succeed as well as children in families where both parents are involved. An organization outside of Washington, DC offers a workshop that helps men become better fathers.

In Hurlock, Maryland, at a place called River House, an American-Russian church community is running a retreat for fathers. 

Here fathers can get parental² advice and have a chance to practice it on the spot – right away.  Businessman Pavel Katsevenko from Hagerstown, Maryland says coming to the retreat has been a good opportunity to spend quality time with his son.

"It is very difficult to combine work with family. And we, fathers, have gathered today to discuss it. Many think that mother has to be with kids mostly, but I think when father is not involved, it leads to problems."

The program at River House is also open to children who don’t have fathers in their lives. For them, the program is an opportunity to interact³ with male role models. Family counselors⁴ also come to River House to see what practices work best in real life.

Chris Brigham bought the River House five years ago with the idea to help fathers become better parents.

"We bought this place in 2010 with that purpose and in 2011 we actually started serving those ministries⁵ in the community. The communities we've served since we've had the River House is Washington, DC, Baltimore, Wilmington and then some communities on the Eastern Shore."

Program organizer Victor Visotski is a pastor⁶ of the New Life Russian Church in Virginia.  He says that for boys, father is the first teacher.

"It is very important for a father to be in his son's life. The son is going his father's path and learns from him. And the gathering⁷ in men's retreat is a great opportunity to relax in this nature and think about how to improve my relations with my wife, how to become a better example for my son."

Mr. Visotski adds that the father's role in a daughter's life is as important as his role in his son's life.

"Girl's love for the opposite sex begins with her love to her father. Her father is the first man she loves, she admires. A father for a daughter is a hero. It is important that the father was faithful to his wife, to create a family filled with love, because your daughter observes all these closely."

Mr. Visotski says a father must take his duties as a parent as seriously as his career.  Setting aside quality time to spend with his child is a good start.

Words in This Story

retreat – n. a trip to a place where you can quietly pray, think or study

on the spot – adj. without any delay, immediately

set aside – phrasal verb to keep or save something for later or for a particular purpose

1 sociology   

n.社会学，社会关系学，群落生态学

参考例句：

• He is studying sociology.他正研究社会学。
• A pioneer of legal sociology in Germany was Max Weber.德国法律社会学的先驱是马克斯·韦伯。

2 parental   

adj.父母的；父的；母的

参考例句：

• He encourages parental involvement in the running of school.他鼓励学生家长参与学校的管理。
• Children always revolt against parental disciplines.孩子们总是反抗父母的管束。

3 interact   

vi.相互作用，相互影响，互通信息

参考例句：

• All things are interrelated and interact on each other.一切事物互相联系并相互作用。
• The policeman advised the criminal to interact with the police.警察劝罪犯与警方合作。

4 counselors   

n.顾问( counselor的名词复数 )；律师；（使馆等的）参赞；（协助学生解决问题的）指导老师

参考例句：

• Counselors began an inquiry into industrial needs. 顾问们开始调查工业方面的需要。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• We have experienced counselors available day and night. ) 这里有经验的法律顾问全天候值班。） 来自超越目标英语 第4册

5 ministries   

（政府的）部( ministry的名词复数 )； 神职； 牧师职位； 神职任期

参考例句：

• Local authorities must refer everything to the central ministries. 地方管理机构应请示中央主管部门。
• The number of Ministries has been pared down by a third. 部委的数量已经减少了1/3。

6 pastor   

n.牧师，牧人

参考例句：

• He was the son of a poor pastor.他是一个穷牧师的儿子。
• We have no pastor at present:the church is run by five deacons.我们目前没有牧师：教会的事是由五位执事管理的。

7 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。