Adoption & Stereotypes - In conversation with Mark Chalk-Iles

 
When you’re a stay at home dad you spend most of your time with women. It’s this really weird world of, ‘You won’t be able to do it’ to ‘Oh my God you’ve done it, you’re the best dad ever, aren’t you a fantastic dad for being at home and doing it!’ and you think ‘No, I’m neither of those things. Firstly I’m completely capable, secondly I’m absolutely no different to you. We’re both doing this, we’re all brilliant, we’re both parenting. We’re all doing a brilliant job because it’s exhausting and tiring. You’re completely winging it like everyone else is.
— Mark Chalk-Iles
 

Nia sits down with Mark who talks candidly about how it feels to be a new (stay at home) dad, the adoption process, misguided attitudes and questionable baby changing facilities!!! This is a thought provoking, informative conversation that is both funny and moving.


Mark on Fishing for the Truth

I’ve now taken part in two Fishing for the Truth videos with Nia, and both have been really valuable experiences. Nia, through her unique combination of kindness, intuition, empathy, humour and compassion, managed to uncover things about me and my experience that even I didn't know until I was saying them out loud. Nia makes these videos to help people, but I never realised how much taking part in them would help me to deal with my own insecurities and demons, and move forward. We live in divisive times, where the main aim of many seems to be drawing lines in the sand and reminding us of our differences. Nia is a refreshing antidote to this, reminding us that we are more alike than we are different, and teaching us that empathy for others can change the world.

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