The first few times your child doesn't answer, you understand. They're busy. They're with friends. They're living life. The tenth time? It starts to feel different. The text goes unanswered. The call goes to voicemail. The effort feels one-sided. And eventually a thought starts creeping in: Maybe they don't want to hear from me. So you stop reaching out. Not because you don't care. Because it hurts. Most Fathers Don't Stop Caring This is one of the biggest misconceptions abou

Some mornings hit different. Not because something’s wrong but because you’re tired of doing everything right and still not seeing it line up. I’m Sharif Colbert, founder of LifeCoachATL, and I’ve been reflecting on how even when you’re coaching others to stay strong, there are days you have to coach yourself too. I’ve been putting in the work... coaching, creating shirts, renting cars on Turo, staying positive, staying grateful. I’m out here pushing. But lately, the return h

The Weight Men Don’t Talk About Most of us were raised to carry and not to share. We learned early that feelings were “soft,” tears made you weak, and stress was something you worked through, not talked about. So, we carry. We carry pressure, disappointment, and guilt for every moment we feel like we came up short as dads, husbands, sons, or men. But the problem is, carrying too much weight doesn’t just wear down your shoulders; it shuts down your heart. You stop talking. You

I can remember being a kid and hearing things that stuck to my skin for years. “You think you’re grown.” “Stop crying before I give you something to cry about.” “You’ll never get it right.” Sometimes it came from adults who meant well but just didn't know better. Sometimes it came from people who were hurting themselves... Like relatives or neighborhood kids. Either way, those words planted something: shame. And here’s the truth—most of us are still carrying it.We just learne

Too many of us cling to old habits and call it “just who I am.” How many times have you heard that? How many times have you said it? Let me be the first to tell you… that’s an excuse. It’s an excuse to stay stuck where you are. Your kids don’t need the old version of you. They need the man who’s willing to evolve. Here’s the truth: the longer you defend your old self, the longer you delay becoming the father, the partner, and the man your family deserves right now. The Victim

One of the things I tell fathers all the time is this: it’s never too late to rebuild your relationship with your kids but you have to be willing to do the work on yourself first. My son and I have always been close. He’ll tell you that the man he is today, a great dad, husband, and man, is partly because of the place I’ve had in his life. But there was a time when he and I weren’t speaking, and it shook me. I’m not the type of dad who can go days, months, or years without ta

I’ve talked to so many men who carry shame and judgment like a backpack full of bricks. Some of us feel ashamed because we don’t fit into the box of what a “real man” is supposed to look like. Some of us feel judged for not providing enough, not being tough enough, not holding it together at all times. And for LGBTQ men, especially fathers, the pressure can double because people are quick to question if you even count as “man enough” in the first place. I know this feeling be

With the good comes the bad or maybe it’s with the bad comes the good. I talk a lot about who I am today, but I haven’t always been this...

We don’t like to admit it, but sometimes a child’s first bully isn’t a classmate on the playground... it’s their own parent. I’m not saying parents don’t love their kids. I’m saying that sometimes, without realizing it, we end up parenting from the pain we haven’t healed yet. Those unhealed wounds have a way of spilling over and our kids feel it. How It Happens 1. Unhealed Pain Becomes Projection If you were shamed for crying as a kid, you might tell your child, “Stop being s

You ever find yourself fired up about change new goals, better habits, stronger relationships but somehow that fire fizzles out before...

Look, I get it. The last thing most men want to do is sit around and talk about confidence. We’d rather debate football stats, argue...

I’ll be honest—there was a time when I genuinely believed I’d ruined my chance at being a good father. Divorce has a way of putting a...

2020 was a rough year for everybody, but especially my youngest. That kid is a social butterfly through and through. Like her old man, I...

I remember the first time I sat my teenage son JC down to talk about sex. He was probably around 15. I called him into the room, tossed him a box of condoms, and told him to put one on a 22-ounce bottle of Sprite. He looked at me like I had completely lost my mind. “Go ahead,” I said. “Put it on there.” After some hesitation—and a whole lot of side-eye—he complied. Then I hit him with the line: “Don’t ever tell me a condom doesn’t fit. If it can go over that bottle of Sprite,

I never had a blueprint for what it meant to be a good father. My biological dad was killed when I was about three years old, and I...

(A blog for dads, by a dad who’s still growing) I used to think that being a dad meant one thing: provide. Just keep the lights on and...

Fatherhood is one of the most important roles a man can take on in his lifetime. It carries immense responsibility and offers a unique...

Fatherhood is a remarkable adventure filled with joy, challenges, and a unique set of responsibilities. Yet, many fathers often feel...

A blog for dads, by a dad who's still learning I love all my kids fiercely, but if I’m being real… my youngest, Kennedy, and I used to...

By Sharif Colbert, LifeCoachATL As a life coach and a dad who’s been through divorce, I understand that co-parenting is not always easy....