Looking for advice or encouragement as a dad? Join the club - your kids never came with a training manual, and most of us had to stumble through the school of hard knocks. All of us are still learning!
Here are several books that I have found very helpful as a dad, and entertaining too. If you have a book you'd like to recommend, or would like to send me to review, please email me at rick@dad-eblog.com.
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I have laughed more in the last few days while reading this book than I have in months! The authors Stacie, Cathy, and Julia give a smart and witty perspective of both sides of the parenting equations - how mom feels and how dad feels. They literally asked hundreds of parents around the country to describe their early parenting years, and the book is full of hilarious anecdotes that you will surely be able to relate to.
Why focus on a marriage book in a daddy blog? The authors of this book said it best: "A husband and wife's relationship is the linchpin of the family. When it falters, a child's world is unhinged." This is a must-read in my opinion if you're just starting out as a dad (if you hurry there might still be time for you to get your act together as a new dad and discover what's taken over your wife-turned-mom). It's a must-read if you're a seasoned dad too - you'll be able to relate to the stories and if you're like me you'll have some "so that's what was going on with my wife" moments... and some "Did I really do that as a new dad?" moments as well. |
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Dad's Everything Book for Daughters by John Trent
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Book Description: The mission is to give fathers short, practical ideas to build quality relationships with their 8- 12-year-old daughters. From the Back Cover: The relationship you build with her will shape the very course of her life. And these precious years between ages eight and twelve are the time to forge bonds of care and nurturance that will weather your daughter’s potentially stormy teenage years and give her the enduring legacy of a father’s love. But how do you build that kind of close-knit relationship? “I wanted to provide a can’t-miss, practical, ‘put into action today’ bucketful of ideas that any dad could pour into his daughter’s life,” writes family relationships expert John Trent. Here is the result. Dad’s Everything Book for Daughters is filled with ideas on how to connect with your daughter during
You’ll also find an entire section containing twenty-one prayers you can pray for your daughter. So dig into this book today. The closeness you’ll build with your daughter will be the greatest gift you’ll ever give her. |
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The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman
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From AudioFile: Two Christian parenting educators describe five ways we can connect with our children: physical touch, quality time, words of affirmation, gifts, and acts of service. These initiatives, when geared to the preferences of each child, make them feel loved and, thus, more receptive to guidance and redirection when needed. The authors are inspiring writers whose examples and quotes from children and parents are instructive. Gary Chapman's uplifting reading makes the effort that some of these approaches will require seem natural and right. This is a program that helps listeners make their children central in their lives and that provides them with specific tools to stay connected. T.W. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine |
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Grace Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel
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From Publishers Weekly: Kimmel, author and founder of Family Matters ministries, likens many Christian parents' attempts at rearing children to putting together a puzzle without first studying the completed picture located on the box's cover. Kimmel states that families of faith tend toward extremes, either being overly permissive or overly legalistic. This is not a particularly new concept, but Kimmel pulls it off with interesting storytelling and sound biblical parallels. He says Christians frequently believe that the battle for a child's heart and soul is fought on the outside-with rigid rules and boundaries-when in fact just the opposite is true. He underscores the importance of communicating the unconditional love that Christ offers and affirming this timeless message of grace to one's family. Despite the numerous examples the author cites where parents fail, this text is overwhelmingly upbeat with hope and possibility: Parents who strive to live a life of faith characterized by daily trust in God will pass on this message of possibility and potential to their offspring. Kimmel asserts that this "radical" mode of parenting will meet the three essential needs in kids' lives: for security, significance and strength. He assures parents that these needs can be met with grace-laced love, purpose and hope. Kimmel's gentle heart is evident in every chapter, and his obvious passion will spur frustrated parents to keep at the task with new resolve and optimism. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. |
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To Own a Dragon by Don Miller and John McMurray
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