In the days, weeks, months, and years before our first baby was born, I read about a hundred parenting books. Well, maybe not a hundred, and maybe not years before the birth, but at least ten books, all of which were targeted toward expectant or new moms.
So I skipped the birth parts and the breastfeeding parts, and a few other parts I skimmed. And the thing is, I thought this was the way things were. I knew I wanted to take an active role in my almost-born kid's life, but I thought I had to learn my way by reading books written for moms.
However, that was before I became a dad and before I started getting conscious about the way dads were being ignored by the media. Now I look back and think it was unacceptable for soon-to-be or new dads to read a "What to Expect..." book. I'm not saying parenting books for men should include centerfolds, but they should simply be geared toward men. While moms need tips on breastfeeding, dads need tips on helping moms breastfeed. Men need parenting books written by dads for dads, in short.
Which is exactly where the book Dad to Dad: Parenting Like a Pro
comes in. This book was written by David L. Hill, a (male) pediatrician, the publisher is the trusted American Academy of Pediatricians, and most importantly, it's written for dads.
I believe a society gradually moving toward full acknowledgment of fatherhood needs this book. Dads need to know what to expect just like moms do, but they also need to be addressed as dads. We need to know how to take care of our newborns, we need to know about vaccines, we need to know about fevers, sleepless nights, discipline, diapers, and "the talk." And we need to know about these things and many more without putting fatherhood on hold while we're reading a parenting book.
I received a copy of the book for this review. Opinions are mine. MINE!!!!
Dad to Dad: Parenting Like a Pro
So I skipped the birth parts and the breastfeeding parts, and a few other parts I skimmed. And the thing is, I thought this was the way things were. I knew I wanted to take an active role in my almost-born kid's life, but I thought I had to learn my way by reading books written for moms.
However, that was before I became a dad and before I started getting conscious about the way dads were being ignored by the media. Now I look back and think it was unacceptable for soon-to-be or new dads to read a "What to Expect..." book. I'm not saying parenting books for men should include centerfolds, but they should simply be geared toward men. While moms need tips on breastfeeding, dads need tips on helping moms breastfeed. Men need parenting books written by dads for dads, in short.
Which is exactly where the book Dad to Dad: Parenting Like a Pro
comes in. This book was written by David L. Hill, a (male) pediatrician, the publisher is the trusted American Academy of Pediatricians, and most importantly, it's written for dads.I believe a society gradually moving toward full acknowledgment of fatherhood needs this book. Dads need to know what to expect just like moms do, but they also need to be addressed as dads. We need to know how to take care of our newborns, we need to know about vaccines, we need to know about fevers, sleepless nights, discipline, diapers, and "the talk." And we need to know about these things and many more without putting fatherhood on hold while we're reading a parenting book.
I received a copy of the book for this review. Opinions are mine. MINE!!!!
.jpg)
It's funny that even with the acknowledgement that men and women parent differently, parenting books have always been so mother-leaning, and any fatherhood book out there focused on (basically) short-cuts and how to "get away" when you've had enough for the day. It's great to see books about involved fatherhood that takes into account a man's personality without pandering to the sports-guns-beer-mancave thing.
ReplyDeleteI know. The writer isn't trying to be cool or to fit into any male-stereotype, and the book is definitely not just "our side of the story," but a book about parenting, written for dads.
Delete