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About Fathers

Perspectives on fathers and their children.

Law and Crime
Does mental illness remove all responsibility for a crime?

Paul Raeburn on January 12, 2011

It's easy to make a diagnosis of "mental illness" when you are not a mental health professional and you haven't examined the patient. Was Rep. Gabrielle Giffords shot by a man, or by a diagnosis?

It's easy to make a diagnosis of "mental illness" when you are not a mental health professional and you haven't examined the patient. Was Rep. Gabrielle Giffords shot by a man, or by a diagnosis?

Parenting
Sperm donor loses suit for joint custody of child

Paul Raeburn on September 28, 2010

A sperm donor who sued for custody of the child he helped conceive sued for joint custody--and lost. The decision was good for the mother. But was it good for the child?

A sperm donor who sued for custody of the child he helped conceive sued for joint custody--and lost. The decision was good for the mother. But was it good for the child?

Relationships
Things lost when families dissolve

Paul Raeburn on June 9, 2009

When Rudy Mancuso's family dissolved, he lost not only his familiar family life, but the crowning achievement of his professional career: the negative for what is probably the most famous photograph in baseball.

When Rudy Mancuso's family dissolved, he lost not only his familiar family life, but the crowning achievement of his professional career: the negative for what is probably the most famous photograph in baseball.

Bipolar Disorder
More bad news for the children of older fathers

Paul Raeburn on March 12, 2009

A study of the children of older fathers has found subtle impairments of intelligence and other mental abilities during infancy and childhood.This is only the latest in a series of problems identified in the children of older fathers, an area of study that has been widely overlooked. 

A study of the children of older fathers has found subtle impairments of intelligence and other mental abilities during infancy and childhood.This is only the latest in a series of problems identified in the children of older fathers, an area of study that has been widely overlooked. 

Bipolar Disorder
Older Fathers: Increased risk of having children with autism, schizophrenia

Paul Raeburn on January 28, 2009

Just after my two-year-old son, Henry, was born, I was surprised and disturbed to learn that he was at increased risk of autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other ills--because of my age.

Just after my two-year-old son, Henry, was born, I was surprised and disturbed to learn that he was at increased risk of autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other ills--because of my age.