Rookie Dad

If you grew up without a father figure, you may be concerned whether you have what it takes to be a great dad. Author Kendall Smith, son of a single mother, takes you under his wing, sharing the wisdom he has gathered from his own experience as a father, from observing other dads, and from interviewing various generations of men. This playbook for fathers who, like Smith, did not have a regular and dependable father figure is packed with short lessons to answer questions new dads will face, from choosing your parenting style to what it means to really be the “man of the house” (spoiler alert: it’s not the 1950s) to managing your expectations as your child grows into a unique person. With hilarious examples and a straightforward approach, Rookie Father is the mentor-in-a-book every new father needs to be the dad you want to be.

FUN AND EASY EXERCISES AND GAMES FOR DADS AND BABIES IN THEIR FIRST YEAR.

When I found out my wife, Christine, was pregnant, I had no idea what I was thinking or feeling, and no clue what I should be thinking or feeling. Christine had daily heart-to-hearts with her girlfriends and a stack of parenting books by her bed. I had lots of questions with no answers. So I started writing. It was either that, or try to ignore the whole thing – a choice that became increasingly difficult as Christine’s belly became increasingly swollen.Rookie Dad is the story of a young husband and father learning how to pay attention to his family’s changing size and shape. It’s a story filled with hard questions, with laughter and tears, and with the unexpected joy of first-time fatherhood. It’s my story – the story of how I became a dad.

Let's get ready to rumble! Dads discover that the rules of the parenting game change completely after their baby moves into the wonderful and totally physical toddler world of discovery and learning. How can you be a hands-on dad and play a vital role in your one-to-three-year-old's development? With the fun exercises and activities for dads and kids in Rookie Dad Tackles the Toddler! Working out in the Brain Gym, kids grasp colors, sizes, and shapes Kid Talk pumps up language and listening skills Cool down tantrums and meltdowns by stepping Out of Bounds Learn the ABCs of eating like a champion with Peak Performance Even the busiest father can make bedtime or getting dressed child's play with these simple, interactive games. Go for the gold with your toddlers -- and enjoy the prize of having happier, healthier, more capable children who strive for big things -- thanks to you, their hero.

The author has written a humorous narration of becoming a father with his first child, his daughter, Betsy. The narration takes on several years of life with his daughter and then the arrival of his second child another daughter. The author covers others areas in a humorous fashion such as relating with the "guys" and sibling rivalry and discipline. The author writes a parenting column in 50 parenting and family-life publications.

The fatherless black family is a problem that grows to bigger proportions every year as generations of black children grow up without an adult male in their homes. As this dire pattern grows worse, what can men do who hope to break it, when there are so few models and so little guidance in their own homes and communities? Where can they learn to “become Dad?” When Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Pitts—who himself grew up with an abusive father whose absences came as a relief—interviewed dozens of men across the country, he found both discouragement and hope, as well as deep insights into his own roles as son and father. An unflinching investigation, both personal and journalistic, of black fatherhood in America, this is the best, most pivotal book on this profoundly important issue.

Bragging rights and bumper stickers are some of the social forces fueling today’s parenting behavior—and, as a result, even well-intentioned parents are behaving badly. Many parents don’t know how best to support their teens, especially when everyone around them seems to be frantically tutoring, managing, and helicoptering. The Parent Compass provides guidance on what parents’ roles should be in supporting their teens’ mental health as they traverse the maze of the adolescent years. For anyone daunted by the unique challenge of parenting well in this pressure-laden and uncertain era, The Parent Compass offers: Advice on fostering grit and resilience in your teen Strategies to help your teen approach life with purpose Guidance on how to preserve your relationship with your teen while navigating a competitive academic environment Clear explanations of your appropriate role in the college admission process Effective ways to approach technology use in your home, and much more! Using The Parent Compass to navigate the adolescent years will help you parent with confidence and intention, allowing you to forge a trusting, positive relationship with your teen.