Dave Landers, the author of I Wish He’d Taught Me How to Shave, has a very special place in the hearts of Jaywalkers. Dave has made the trip from Burlington,Vermont, to Colorado twice over the last year to guide our men to question and challenge the concept of masculinity. He asked Jaywalkers if they wanted to be fathers. Most answered with a resounding, YES. Then he asked them why. Silence reigned; they weren’t sure. Lander’s book includes chapters called: “Fathers and Tears,” “Fathers and Alcohol,” and “Wonderful Fathers.”
Dave has been teaching a class at St. Michael’s called Men and Masculinity; each semester, during the last eight years, he asked students to write essays about what they learned about men and masculinity from their fathers. The compilation of these essays morphed into Lander’s first book.
Being honest about our fathers and letting them be human is sometimes difficult. It took me years to figure out that I could love my dad and also admit that he was not perfect. I hope it doesn’t take as long for my daughters. By claiming that our parents were imperfect makes them human. And they are. I know that I have not been the perfect parent. But I also know my daughters love me. I am human.
Dave Lander’s book is a must read if you are a parent or have been parented.
Janet DeMars
Program Director
Jaywalker U
