When Fathers Feel Irrelevant | Understanding Patrescence and Relationship Disconnect | Ep. 74

Download the [free] Reconnection Roadmap [for him] !!

Fatherhood is more than showing up at bedtime or paying the bills. Yet too often, dads enter parenthood without the same acknowledged transformation that mothers undergo.

This episode of The Parenthood and Relationship Podcast pulls back the curtain on patrescence - the emotional, psychological, and relational journey of becoming a father.

While society expects women to evolve when they become mothers, men are still told to “provide, not process.”

The result?

Emotional disconnect, intimacy breakdowns, and couples who love each other but feel worlds apart.

In this episode, we dive deep into what happens when fathers aren’t invited into their own becoming, and why that gap leaves both partners lonely.

With warmth, honesty, and practical tools, we unpack the barriers that hold men back from fully stepping into fatherhood, from cultural conditioning to fear of failure.

More importantly, you walk away with a roadmap for reconnection that doesn’t blame men, but instead calls them into deeper presence, courage, and love.

This isn’t about fixing your partner. It’s about understanding the unseen layers of patrescence and reclaiming connection — for yourself, your relationship, and your children.

Today we explore:

1. What patrescence is and why it’s rarely talked about.

2. How men experience fatherhood differently (and why it often goes unnamed).

3. The barriers that stop dads from fully shifting.

4. Practical micro-movements couples can use to rebuild closeness.

Moms, if you’ve ever wondered why your partner seems unchanged while you feel completely transformed, or if you’re a dad who feels “not enough” no matter what you do, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

👉 Don’t miss the free resource mentioned in the episode: The Reconnection Roadmap, a simple 7-step guide to help couples rediscover admiration and affection without needing a heavy emotional talk.

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Episode Transcript HERE.

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Download the [free] Reconnection Roadmap [for him] 



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Markella Kaplani, M.A.

Clinical-Counseling Psychologist

Parenthood & Relationship Coach

www.markellakaplani.com