"Dads Matter" Talk

What: Author Bob Hazleton talks about his book, "Dad's Matter"
Where: Books can be purchased at Pshaws Cards and Gifts on Third Ave. S.W. Albany while the talk took place at The Oregon Language Center,
243 Third Ave S.W. Albany
Why: "Dads Matter" looks at the impact that dads have in their kid's lives, especially focusing on the mid-valley's need for invested dads
Learn more at his website


The Oregon Language Center classroom held a new teacher at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Bob Hazleton, author of "Dads Matter," sat in a school desk talking to the small classroom audience.

Hazleton shared, "I wanted to do something to make a difference and let people know my experience of how important dads are." He is confident sharing his story will change families for the better.

Hazleton explained how his journey to write this book began years ago. His youngest son, though affectionate, struggled with getting into the wrong crowd. In early high school, he was caught with drugs, arrested, and pulled out of school twice. Eventually Hazleton and his wife sent the boy to Mexico for a rehabilitation program.

When starting college at Oregon State University, the boy was once again kicked out of the house for failure to abide by "the rules."

Hazleton's interest in what his son's seminars to were doing convinced him to join these companies professionally. He did and, while working, heard kids continually talk about their dads.

"Dad abused me"

"Dad did this"

"Awful dads seem to have more of an impact on their kids than good dads," said Hazleton.


Hazleton told how the book has many stories about both the parents and the kids who struggle with a relationship to the dad.

Pam Shaw, owner of P'Shaws Cards and Gifts as well as The Oregon Language Center, invited Hazleton to come talk after hearing about him from friend, Nancy Klahn. "We try to get local products in."

She motioned to the "Dad's Matter"book displayed on the counter in P'Shaws. Shaw believed Hazleton had a good message that needed to be heard in our community.

Klahn, Executive director of the parent enhancement program in Corvallis says that, "He's running the Dad's program (part of the parent enhancement program) the first of the year."
Two dollars will also be donated to a family non-profit organization for each book sold at P'shaws.

Hazleton believes families in our community will be able to get through tough times if dads are present and "hang in there" when it seems like the kids don't want them around.

The Saturday talk finished by ending the story about Hazleton's rebellious son. The boy who is now a young man, worked to earn his nursing assistant license and got a job at the hospital. His patients loved the attention he gave.

He is now attending nursing school and was married in March of 2009.

In the middle of writing his book, Hazleton received a letter from a friend who had recently stayed in the same hospital where Hazleton's son worked.

In the letter, he talked about a "kind and compassionate CNA." He then discovered it was Hazleton's son.

"He was bright, thoughtful and caring," said the friend. This letter ended with encouragement.

"Thank you for not giving up on your son."

That message stuck with Hazleton and he continues to bring it to other parents.