The Words From My Son That Filled Me With Both Shame and Hope

When my son told me he wanted to be just like me, I didn’t feel pride—I felt fear. But in his eyes, I realized he already sees the father I’m trying to…

Sep 2 • 

Derek Moeller-Smith

2

3

August 2025

Is 'F* Around and Find Out' Really the 'Anti-Gentle Parenting?'

What the buzzword battle misses about boundaries, consequences, and connection.

Aug 12 • 

Derek Moeller-Smith

1

June 2025

What We See When the Light Dims

A twilight moment with my son and a single glowing firefly reminded me how easy it is to lose the plot—and how important it is to play your role, even…

Jun 30 • 

Derek Moeller-Smith

5

The Discipline of Showing Up

A four-year-old. A slice of toast. A father unraveling under pressure. This is a story about repair, resilience, and the quiet work of showing up again.

Jun 23 • 

Derek Moeller-Smith

13

April 2025

There's Still Time

He grew up idolizing Peter Pan. Now, at 40 with a disability, he sees himself in Captain Hook. A raw and honest look at aging, fatherhood, and learning…

Apr 23 • 

Derek Moeller-Smith

2

The Story She Never Stopped Believing

Part One of “The Book, the Hook, and the Boy”—on the story that shaped my wife, and what it means to see her pass it on.

Apr 21 • 

Derek Moeller-Smith

4

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When Fear Sounds Like Love

The Subtle Ways “What If” Shapes How We Parent

Published on unpopular PARENT • Apr 12

Living Despite the World

While the world feels like it’s on fire, we still drink coffee, care for our children, and tend to what’s ours. That’s not denial—it’s discipline.

Apr 11 • 

Derek Moeller-Smith

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2

The One About Post-pandemic Parenting

If surviving the pandemic was hard, raising kids after it seems harder.

Published on Indian Millennial Dad • Apr 10

I Refuse to Be the Ghost That Haunts My Children

You don’t have to be flawless to be a good parent. You have to keep fighting to be present.

Apr 9 • 

Derek Moeller-Smith

14

6

The Childcare Crisis No One Prepared You For

Why Daycare Is So Expensive - and What It Means for Working Parents

Published on The Fatherhood Framework • Apr 8

This Too Shall Pass

Parenthood moves fast. From joyful firsts to chaotic meltdowns, every moment eventually fades. Here's how we can stay grounded in the blur.

Apr 7 • 

Derek Moeller-Smith

4