Kemp, Lynda A., authorAnderson, Sharon K., advisorLittrell, John, committee memberBundy-Fazioli, Kimberly, committee memberJennings, Louise B., committee member2007-01-032007-01-032011http://hdl.handle.net/10217/46376Nurturing requires engagement and engagement can be difficult to achieve if a father does not, due to divorce, share as much time with his children as he did previously. Using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis approach, this study solicited from divorced fathers a description of their experience nurturing their children post-divorce. While much research focuses on the need of children for their father to be there; this study focused on the fathers' need to be there. The data in this study--the divorced fathers' voices--described nurturing post-divorce as a composite of both external actions and situations, and internal feelings. Overall, the data reflected the desire and commitment of these fathers to maintain, or rebuild, a nurturing relationship with their children. Two general observations emerged from these fathers' stories: that the "loss" of their children through divorce brought to light just how precious their fathering role was, and that often times fathers' relationships with their children were enhanced post-divorce. However, while being there was the common "thread" that ran through the post-divorce nurturing experience, the meaning of being there varied from father to father. Therefore, even if the "essence" of nurturing post-divorce is being there, being there is changeable, and experienced differently, by every divorced father.born digitaldoctoral dissertationsengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.fatheringpost-divorcenurturingfathersText