DADsquared℠

My husband and I recently celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary. Our son and I share a birthday around the same date as well, so my family likes to plan a fun and special getaway to commemorate it all. This year we decided to visit our nation’s capital, Washington D.C. It seemed fitting, based on the fact that our marriage is now,  finally , legally recognized in our home state of North Carolina and also because of the enormous strides that marriage equality has been making in recent days. read the full article  here

I am happy to say that as I write this articles my husband and I have completed the required classes in the MAPP program, Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting for North Carolina. We received a lovely certificate as our class mates cheered as each of our family names were called. I am also happy to say that ALL three of the same-gender families that started the program were among the recipients of the coveted certificate. So what does that mean? Do we now get down to the business of meeting children and growing our families? Well....... not exactly. read the full article  here

Once a year, here in Durham NC, we have an amazing event called the  Noth Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival . It is held at the beautiful  Carolina Theatre of Durham , a theatre that was built in 1926 and that has seen so much, not just in the name of art and history but in the way of civil right's movements and the blur of faces, causes,  triumpths and injustices, all that have played out not just on it's screen or stage but on its sidewalks and walkways. What should have been a lovely morning took a turn. Another moment in history was about to be played out. Read full article here  The Next Family Henry Amador is a husband, father, writer and  life coach . Henry founded  DADsquared  where he continues to provide love, support and resources to gay fathers and those on the road to fatherhood. He lives in North Carolina with his happy tribe and hopes to grow old on the family ...

By Henry Amador for  DADsquared This morning we awoke like we do most Saturday morning, at the crack of dawn. Our nearly three year old son pops out of bed on drive and ready to go. My husband and I have learned that we need to get up earlier than the crows in order to get at least one cup of coffee down before he shoots out of the gate. This morning was incredibly mild and beautiful out side and we decided that a stroll through the Durham's Farmer's Market  was in order. I never really considered myself a city boy, although I was born in New York. My Family moved to Florida in the early 70's when I was still a small child. Growing up in that version of the South was soft and mellow and truly peaceful. In retrospect, my childhood was blissful and safe. My Mom had divorced before we moved to Florida As a single parent she was fearful that my growing up in the city would be difficult, she was however hopeful that moving me somewhere greener ...