Soft Eyes,
Strong Spine
A Guide to Life and Kids from a Divorced Dad
Soft Eyes, Strong Spine — a way to live forward.
For parents holding tight to their connection.
And those reaching to rebuild it.
This started as a book for divorced dads.
But it’s for any parent—
who’s close and knows how fast that can shift,
or who’s distant and still trying to find their way back.
Soft Eyes, Strong Spine is a posture:
warmth without collapse, boundaries without hardness.
If you’re tired of overthinking, overreacting, or carrying more than you need to…
If you want to show up for your kids with calm confidence instead of pressure…
If you’re ready to stop letting noise run your nervous system—
Welcome.
divorced dads and parents who want to stay deeply connected to their kids without hardening, withdrawing, or performing strength they no longer believe in
men who are capable and responsible, but tired of bracing their way through conversations, handoffs, and quiet moments alone.
parents who are close—and those still on their way back
adults who sense something steadier is required; not softer or stronger, but both—and want language and orientation more than instructions
This is for:
Use this space to slow down.
To take a break you didn’t know you were holding.
Read what’s here without trying to extract anything from it.
Let the words sit. Let them pass.
Let this be a place to soften your eyes.
To remember your spine.
Join Notes from a Divorced Dad
An email for fathers navigating life after divorce — and for any parent trying to stay connected to their kids. Reflections on staying steady, holding your spine, and living this season with clarity.
Bookstore - Release Date April 2, 2026
About the Author
Eric Brockman is a father of four and the author of Soft Eyes, Strong Spine, a memoir-driven guide for divorced dads navigating the emotional fog of parenting after separation.
After decades of high-pressure work—and the quieter pressure of trying to hold everything together at home—Eric realized he was showing up at the wrong emotional frequency, especially with his children.
A series of life-changing events, along with countless ordinary moments, forced a deeper reckoning and opened a new path forward.
Through that introspective journey, Eric began to understand that what kids need most isn’t intensity or perfection, but steadiness and emotional availability at the right frequency.
Those insights became the foundation of Soft Eyes, Strong Spine: soft eyes representing warmth, safety, and attunement, and strong spine representing clarity, boundaries, and grounded masculinity.
Eric writes for fathers who want to parent with steadiness instead of fear, calm instead of chaos, and presence instead of performance. He lives in North Carolina, where he enjoys sports, good meals, family time, and the ongoing evolution into “Eric 2.0.”
