By Alain Mbe
Looking at Fatherhood Through the Lens of Risk
When David Hillson introduced the RARA Model—linking risk appetite with risk attitude to set thresholds—it was meant for projects and organisations. But its language intrigued us. Could we borrow it to explore the uncertainties of fatherhood?
We tried. For a while, RARA helped us map appetite, thresholds, and attitude in relation to becoming a father. It gave men a language to name their fears, their conditions, their choices. Yet the model still felt rooted in avoiding loss. It framed fatherhood mainly as a risk to be managed.
Fatherhood is more than that. It is a project, yes—but also a calling, a relationship, and a source of identity. We needed a model that doesn’t just calculate risk, but also nurtures growth.
That is how ROOTS was born.
The ROOTS Framework
Taking inspiration from the baobab tree—sturdy, rooted, life-giving—we propose a model built for men seeking a positive fatherhood experience.
R – Readiness
Fatherhood isn’t a finish line you stumble across. It requires preparation—personal, relational, financial, emotional. Readiness is not perfection, but an honest assessment: Where am I strong? Where do I need support?
O – Openness
Children re-shape their fathers. A man closed to change will snap under pressure. Openness is the willingness to learn, to adapt, to be wrong, and to grow alongside your child.
O – Ownership
Fatherhood is not something that “happens” to you. Ownership means stepping into the role deliberately: showing up, accepting responsibility, and leading by presence, not just provision.
T – Thresholds
Like RARA, we keep thresholds. These are the boundaries that guard balance—between work and family, self and partner, tradition and innovation. Knowing them keeps fatherhood sustainable, not suffocating.
S – Support
No father thrives in isolation. ROOTS insists on networks of care: partners, family, community, mentors, and spaces like Baobab Fathers UK. Support gives depth and resilience to the fatherhood journey.
Why ROOTS Matters
ROOTS does what RARA could not: it shifts the centre of gravity from fear of risk to hope of growth. It offers a language that fathers, partners, and communities can share—not about avoiding disaster, but about cultivating stability, resilience, and flourishing.
In practical terms, ROOTS can guide:
Men reflecting before fatherhood: a checklist of dimensions to explore. Couples preparing together: a shared framework for honest conversation. Communities supporting fathers: a tool for mentoring, workshops, and peer circles.
A Baobab Father’s Vision
The baobab tree is sometimes called the tree of life. With deep roots and wide branches, it provides shade, fruit, and shelter. Our hope is that the ROOTS framework helps men become baobab-like—deeply rooted, openly giving, able to withstand storms, and life-nurturing for the children who depend on them.
Closing Reflection
We began with RARA, a model for risk. We arrived at ROOTS, a model for growth. Both matter. Fatherhood will always carry risk—financial, emotional, relational. But it also carries the promise of renewal.
By cultivating Readiness, Openness, Ownership, Thresholds, and Support, men can step into fatherhood not as reluctant passengers, but as rooted guides.