As an older dad who grew up in a rural culture in the South, certain things were expected of women, and that included raising the children. But I think it's just as important for the father to give the baths, to hug, to change the diapers, to tell the stories.

A working definition of fathering might be this: fathering is the act of guiding a child to behave in ways that lead to the child's becoming a secure child in full, thus increasing his or her chances of being happy and fruitful as a young adult.

In this group, not many are what I would call locals, so they have been fascinated with local history, ... Cold Mountain.

strong , long-dormant urge to fly came thundering back alive after almost twenty years. I had to get one of these little airplanes. I had to start flying again. Suddenly . . . I was rehooked, reinfatuated.

Raney ... Describes more people I know than any book I've read.

centered all my aspirations and hopes about where I'd end up: in a jet fighter cockpit.

Being a father can unreason your worldview, or at least make it very flexible, and that can create all sorts of fun and insights. Its sad that childrens open-eyed wonder and sense of play begin to fade as they approach adolescence. One grand function of fathering is to keep the fading to a minimum.

Because we men have been physically stronger and more arrogant, weve influenced much of the cool stuff of the world, like basing the definition of courage on what we do on battlefields rather than on the patience or endurance or tolerance necessary for a sometimes painful daily grind that includes small children.

Because I was born in the South, I’m a Southerner. If I had been born in the North, the West or the Central Plains, I would be just a human being.

I believe theres a secret chemical thats turned loose when you have kids that says youve got to survive, youve got to be strong. That keeps you on your toes, besides all kinds of other things, when you have three little ones running around.