Once upon a time there would be no question mark here - kids had a Mum and a Dad - that's just the way it was. But society is different now, and the question 'do Dads matter to kids?' is now just that - a question. Can a single Mum bring children up without any input from the 'father'? Does being around for your children make any difference to their outcomes in life? Evidence certainly suggests it does, but how do you work this out - the realities of life, relationships, and work make 'being there' difficult, if not impossible for many men. Articles discuss these issues and give hope to fathers who want to be more than just a sperm donor or income-generator - they simply aspire to be 'Dad'.