Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill resident Paula Gidjunis recently screened a PBS documentary series about fathering, directed and hosted by her son, Philadelphia filmmaker Joe Gidjunis, 42.
The five-part documentary, which explores parenting from the father's perspective, debuted last June and now streams on PBS Passport and YouTube. It also aired on PBS stations across the country, including WHYY-TV Philadelphia (which will air it again sometime next year).
In "Grown Up Dad," filmed during COVID-19, Joe embarks on a deeply personal journey – to be a more present and engaged father to his son, Gabriel, 9, than his father was for him. Along the way, he seeks guidance from experts, including Dr. Vivek Murthy, former U.S. Surgeon General under Presidents Biden and Obama, on the challenges of parenting today, from navigating screen time obsession to redefining modern masculinity, friendship and loneliness. He also confronts the realities of digital citizenship in an era of misinformation and manipulative content.
When Paula played the final episode recently at Masonic Village, Joe was present, along with his aunt and his son, to participate in a question-and-answer session with residents.
"They [residents] had some questions about my story and where my own inspiration came from, how the show came about and why I focused on addressing these specific issues," Joe said. "I also heard wonderful stories from people about their own experiences with parenting and grandparenting. It was a lovely dialogue."
Now currently in pre-production of Season 2, Joe is considering an episode about grandparents who have become caretakers and what that looks like today, with the challenges of social media and artificial intelligence (AI).
U.S. census data from 2023 shows that 7.1 million American grandparents are living with their grandchildren under 18, according to an AARP article. Some 2.3 million of those grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren. About a third of grandchildren living with grandparents who are responsible for them are younger than 6. About half of the grandparents who are responsible for their grandchildren are 60 and over, according to census data.
"Grandparents have a greater responsibility now, as there are more two-parent working households," Joe said. "Some of them [grandparents] are even the primary caregivers. Even at Masonic Village, where no one in the audience was a primary parent to a grandkid, they've all had their own parenting challenges. Every generation does. This show is meant to relate to everyone."
When his wife got pregnant and he was preparing to be a dad, Joe said he didn't receive much useful advice or encouragement from other fathers.
"Nobody told me about the joys of becoming a dad," he said. "You will find more joy and fulfillment in your life if you can be present as a dad. This is the first generation asking ourselves, 'What does it mean to be a good dad?' We've always talked about being a disciplinarian or a provider, but not about the other aspects of parenting – like being present – and now we can."
In one episode of "Grown Up Dad," Joe gets emotional speaking about how his son became more agitated, even threatening to harm himself, after he started playing video games and watching YouTube. The average Gen Z teenager spends between five and seven hours a day on their screens, and almost one half of teens say they must look at their phones every 15 minutes. Not only is this behavior addictive, but it can lead to more anxiety and depression among children, Joe said.
"Social media has fundamentally changed childhood," Dr. Murthy said in one of the segments. "Parenting is so much harder now than it was 20 years ago. We've done safety measures for other products, like seat belts. Why not social media? We know how to do it – we just need the will to do it."
Joe encourages parents to "have the tough conversations" with kids about social media and talk more openly with other parents because there is "strength in numbers."
"It can be overwhelming for parents today, and it makes them feel like failures, but it is not their fault," Joe said. "We need to encourage non-screen activities for our kids, like reading and playing. Parents have more power than they think. I hope people take pieces of advice from each episode and find something they can work with."
"Grown Up Dad" is a viewer-powered project, fully funded by Joe and other supporters of building a better future for fathers, families and communities. To help fund his "passion project," Joe owns his own photography and videography production studio, JPG Photo & Video. He has several speaking engagements planned, so he can further advance his ideas and bring parents together.
"I didn't know what to expect from this series, but I was just blown away," Paula said of her son's documentary. "I'm really proud of him. I never expected to learn so much. I watch my grandson every Thursday night, and I have to say, it's so much harder being a parent today."
Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill resident Ginny Glazier, who attended the Q&A event, said the entire series was "powerful" and "moving." She personally sent a link to the series to friends who have grandchildren.
"It is useful, practical information that anyone [not just dads] can use to be present and helpful in the lives of your loved ones. It gave me perspective. A lot of men come from that 'old dad model' of being stoic and quiet. I never once heard my father talk about what it's like to be a dad or a man. To have a young man talk about 'how can I be a good dad?' … I thought that was a valuable tool for anyone of any time."
For more information on "Grown Up Dad," please visit https://grownup.dad/
