Summer Workshop for Fathers of Young Children

What is the Workshop for Fathers of Young Children?

The Workshop for Fathers is for men who recently entered into one of the great stages of life: fatherhood. Respected guest speakers will provide instruction and guidance on how to navigate major transitions in marriage that come with young children such as:

How you complement your wife in establishing a household and raising children
Reinvigorating your passion for being a father
Navigating the unique aspects and differences in raising girls vs. boys
Panel discussion with experienced fathers and mothers

The seminar will take place September 12-13, 2025 in Bristol, WI. It is targeted to fathers with children aged 5 and under.

Session 1: The Role of Spousal Partnership in Child-Rearing

Mothers and fathers play vital roles in their children's development, influencing emotional, intellectual, and physical growth. Each parent offers unique contributions, creating a balanced and comprehensive environment essential for nurturing well-rounded individuals. In this talk, we'll delve into how these distinct parental approaches shape children and highlight why these differences are crucial for their holistic development.

Session 3: Lead and Teach: A New Approach to Discipline

Many parents resort to reacting and punishing to manage their children’s behavior, but what they truly need is leadership and guidance. Children thrive under a parent with a long-term vision rather than a controlling force. This workshop will discuss five essential elements of effective parenting: creating a family vision, future-focused parenting, leading instead of punishing, being proactive over reactive, and uniting with your spouse in parenting.

Session 2: Daughters vs. Sons: What they need most from Dad

While raising boys and girls shares common goals, sons and daughters have specific needs only a father can address. This talk will investigate what daughters and sons most require from their dads to lead joyful, fulfilled lives and evolve into strong, virtuous, faith-driven individuals. Discovering these unique needs is key to their growth into well-rounded men and women.

Session 4 – A conversation with experienced couples

Our final session features a conversation with two couples who have grown as persons and have come closer as spouses through child-rearing. To provide a variety of perspectives, one of our couples had a spouse who worked from the home and the other had two with external occupations. This conversation will be an insightful and light-hearted sharing of lessons they have learned.

About the Speakers

Doug Hinderer, a licensed marriage and family therapist, hosts "Marriage Unhindered" on Relevant Radio. He offers online workshops like “Marriage Tune-up” and “Marriage Discernment” at happymarriageforlife.com and is active on Instagram and Facebook @happymarriageforlife. Author of "Rekindled Hearts," Doug has been married to Shirley for 45 years and they share 9 children and 10 grandchildren.

Janet Quinlin, a Certified Catholic Life Coach, hosts the "Finding Joy in Marriage and Motherhood" podcast. As a Marriage and Parenting coach, she aids families in fostering a culture of connection and virtue. Janet holds a BA in Elementary Education and has worked in public, private, and homeschool settings. Married to Michael for 41 years, she is a mother of 7 and grandmother to over 22 grandchildren.

Brian and Grettel Donahue, both physicians, live in Park Ridge with their four children, who range from a college senior to a high school freshman. Their kids are familiar with Embers, Willows Academy, and Northridge Prep. Balancing their faith-driven lives with their careers, Brian and Grettel prioritize making decisions that benefit their family.

Mary and Jim Paschall have been married for 31 years. In 2019, they launched an intellectual property law firm, with Jim as the attorney and Mary as the Business Manager. Living in Arlington Heights, they enjoy swimming, boating, running, and cherishing moments with their 7 children and 6 grandchildren.

Schedule

Friday, September 12

6:00pm - Arrival and simple dinner

7:30 – Introductions

8:00 - Session 1

9:00 – Social

Saturday, September 13

7:00 am - Encouraged wake-up time

8:00 - Meditation

8:30 - Holy Mass

9:45 - Breakfast

10:45 - Session 2

11:45 - Break

12:00pm - Session 3

1:00 - Lunch and get-together

3:00 - Session 4

4:00 - Clean up and departure

Additional Details

Logistics

Cost: $55 for the weekend. Fee includes lodging, Friday dinner, and breakfast and lunch on Saturday.

Location

Lake house in Bristol, Wisconsin, approximately 55 miles from Downtown Chicago.

Address will be provided upon registration.

Available Activities

Basketball, bonfires, reading

For more information

Registration

Space is limited, so register now for this event. If you have any questions, please contact us at fathersofyoungchildren@midtownculturalcenter.org.