About me
I’m Sean Talbeaux, a father, husband, brother, son. My purpose is to help raise baby Z., alongside my wife, Heather, while learning and growing beside both of them. Also, to help men like myself slow down and re-connect to the important stuff in life.
About Letters to Z
This Substack began as Engaging Fatherhood, a way of documenting, sharing, and integrating my journey into fatherhood with my extended community.
As our child began to grow into his body and consciousness, I realized that I was more excited about writing to Z, not just cerebral musings in which he was a character. I want to offer him something that reflects who I am in relationship to him. Maybe he’ll read it someday. And, if any truth or wisdom comes through, perhaps others may benefit.
One thread that will weave throughout Letters to Z is the depth and breadth of healing, connection, and re-balancing this planet and we humans need right now.
To that end, I am a white, U.S. American male—born, raised, and residing on land that my cultural ancestors did unfathomably horrible things in order to “possess.”
I personally benefit from the foundation of slavery and genocide on which the U.S. American culture was built, and I am devoted to doing my work to dismantle the systems of patriarchy, oppression, and violence that live in my body and DNA, in service to not passing on these things to my son.
I invite men who look like me, fathers or not, to carry some of that burden with me, to do their own personal healing work, and to come into deep relationship with themselves, others, and the land.
That’s all some heavy stuff to carry. It’s also important to move lightly, love much, and not take ourselves so seriously.
Why would I pay for writing?
I believe that when we offer money for something we value, we nurture that thing into becoming more than it could have become alone. When we invest our money in our kids, local food, and the art, writing, music, and creative content that nourishes us, we become reciprocal and participatory in those relationships.
Please only become a paid subscriber to Letters to Z if you feel an enthusiastic ‘Yes!’ to giving to Z., and receiving my work. That’s the kind of energy I want to offer Z.
Some of your paid subscription funds will go into an investment savings account for him; the rest will be donated to Indigenous-led organizations working to nourish the land and their communities. I’ll let you know when this happens, and where the funds go.
Whether you are a paid or free subscriber, you have my deep thanks and bows for accompanying us along this journey.
