Who We Are
Roland Thompson
Hi, I’m Roland, founder of the Heart of the Fathers movement. Our mission is to inspire, enhance, and empower grandparents to have a positive impact on their families, especially their grandchildren.
To date, the richest experiences I’ve had include the opportunities I’ve created to bond, walk beside, and share experiences with my grandchildren. I should know something about grandkids. I have forty-nine! Once I shifted from the habit of viewing (and I dare say judging) through the lens of my generation and expectations, and spent time getting to know them and who they really are, everything changed – almost immediately.
I discovered that I needed to alter my approach first. My focus has moved from my goals and expectations for them, to focusing on their dreams and goals, and especially to help them feel accepted, loved, and whole. It is my chief aim to support them in discernment, and in discovering and pursuing their own opportunities and potentials.
Given what seems to be a growing gap between generations and the perception of barriers and obstacles for grandparents to make a difference and have a positive influence, it’s my goal to support you in your role of grandparenting today’s rising generations.
Lee Ostler
As I grow older and watch my family expand (now at twenty grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and counting), I’ve become more aware of the lasting impact my life can have on theirs. I also realize there is more I can and should do. Like many, I’ve wondered when I eventually fade from the picture will my family remember and value the connections we shared? Will my influence leave a meaningful and healthy imprint on their minds and hearts? Will our hearts have turned to each other and been connected in a way that blesses them into the future?
I have discovered that for that to happen, something had to change. Mostly me. And me first! I’ve come to understand that the most crucial shift is with my mindset and how I see my role. This new perspective has transformed everything about how I approach and relate to my children and grandchildren. New tools, tactics, and skills have helped. But more than that is the change in the way I see both myself and them. I’ve learned that true connection is more than surface-level. It is to be authentically known, and in understanding their hearts, fears, hopes, and the real inside person.
I am committed to doing better and in supporting a broader community of parents and grandparents who make connection a priority, and who help their families become better prepared for the world ahead.