The Good Dad

It’s never too late to be a better father Jim Daly, president and CEO of Focus on the Family, is an expert in fatherhood—in part because his own "fathers" failed him so badly. His biological dad was an alcoholic. His stepfather deserted him. His foster father accused Jim of trying to kill him. All were out of Jim's life by the time he turned 13. Isn’t it odd—and reminiscent of the hand of God—that the director of the leading organization on family turned out to be a guy whose own background as a kid and son were pretty messed up? Or could it be that successful parenting is discovered not in the perfect, peaceful household but in the midst of battles and messy situations, where God must constantly be called to the scene? That is the mystery unraveled in this book. Using his own expertise, humor, and inexhaustible wealth of stories, Jim will show you that God can make you a good dad, a great dad, in spite of the way you’ve grown up and in spite of the mistakes you’ve made. Maybe even because of them. It’s not about becoming a perfect father. It’s about trying to become a better father, each and every day. It's about building relationships with your children through love, grace, patience, and fun—and helping them grow into the men and women they’re meant to be.

What does being a dad in the 21st Century really mean? Men today want to play an active role in the upbringing of their children; that means knowing how to cope with them, play with them, control them and love them. Becoming a father however, can be an extremely daunting prospect, after all it is completely uncharted territory. This wonderful book is not only for expectant and new fathers but covers the whole range of issues dads encounter from conception through to teenage traumas. Situations such as step-fatherhood and the changing relationship with partners are also discussed in a sensitive and informative style. The stresses imposed by modern lifestyles on fathers and kids are looked at as well as the problems and benefits encountered by the fact that kids today are often very sophisticated and clued-up. Chapters include: * I'm Going to be a Dad * Bonding for Fathers * Discipline * Learning to Play Again * Teenage Traumas Written in a light-hearted yet informative style, and including numerous interviews with fathers themselves, this book reflects the latest thinking and theories on how to be a good father.

“Like the YouTube channel, this is a touching yet informative guide for those seeking fatherly advice, or even a few good dad jokes.” — Library Journal

Most dads want to be awesome dads who are willing to do whatever it takes to help their children grow into successful adults. And they want to have fun doing it! With his trademark humor, Christian comedian and motivational speaker Charles Marshall helps guide dads through the joys and trials of fatherhood. With intriguing insights, biblically based wisdom, and stories from his life and the lives of others, he explores seven key attributes of awesome dads and shares why real men change diapers how to maximize time with your kids why you should sometimes let your kids fail when you need to fight for your kids how becoming a father can be the best thing you never intended From encouraging dads to participate in their children's lives to sharing practical ways to prepare kids for adulthood and everything in between, Charles Marshall helps men gain the confidence they need to be awesome dads.

Fatherhood 101-without the trial-and-error. David George's father died when he was three months old. As the youngest in his family-and the only boy-he had no male role model. When he married, he had two children-both boys. David, an award-winning advertising copywriter, had to figure everything out for himself, asking: "Did I make the right decision?" "Was I a good or a bad dad?" The result is Good Dad/Bad Dad, a Daddy 101 users manual-minus the trial and error. Topics range from baby-proofing your house to setting up a 529 college plan and everything in between. Conversational, boisterous, and sometimes irreverent, it's like getting expert advice from a favorite buddy, with humor and a whole lot of heart.

Every person is born with a deep longing for a father. Being Dad deals with the way fathers, and the subject of biblical fatherhood, are treated in modern culture. Dr. Keith brings his experience with family, students, great mentors, and friends to bear on a subject that is crying out for attention. Equally, he brings his Christian faith, a scholarly eye for detail, and an ear for story along on the journey and works with the reader to navigate a path to a better country where the Father blesses His children and is honored. Forgiven fathers are a gift from God, for they have the gospel to proclaim to their families. This approach leads to gracious fathers that can now display a shadow of the love of their Heavenly Father so that children may be drawn into saving faith.

"Most men spend very little time pondering the question, Am I doing the right things to become a great dad? This book addresses this most important question in a profound way. It's filled with personal stories, focused on powerful principles, and is written for real people. We all know how easy it is, biologically, to become a father. What we often don't realize is that it takes work, dedication, and learned skills to become a dad, especially a great dad." - From the foreword by Jack Canfield, Co-Creator, #1 New York Times best selling series Chicken Soup for the Soul (r) In How to Be a Great Dad, you will learn: The 15-day Great Dad Challenge that transforms fathers into dads. Why dads matter way more than you may think. The lifelong impact fathers have on their children. The three simple and strategic skills to great dad success that all dads can master. Why bad or absent dads can land kids in prison. How to become the father you wish you'd had. Why "father nurture" is as important as "mother nurture." Why saying "I'm proud of you" makes all the difference. Why "I'll love you no matter what" means so much to your kids. Why a hug is not "just a hug" when it comes from Dad. How to build your kids' self-esteem. How to give what you may not have received. A doable process to overcome hurts or limitations from the past. Neil Chethik, executive director of The Carnegie Center, writes, "Keith Zafren is an inspiring guide on this adventure into the heart of fathering. Read this book. It will make you a better dad, and it may even help you forgive your own father for the mistakes he inevitably made." Neil Chethik Executive Director, The Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning Author, FatherLoss and VoiceMale "WOW!!! 'Healing a Father Wound' was by far the most impactful and emotional section of any book I have ever read. I can't even describe how deeply this teaching affected me. The feeling of 'choked up' stayed throughout reading the section, and keeps coming back even now. I realized clearly how my own father wound has affected my entire life, and still does to this day. It also made me realize how the healing process is a daily reward to me and my boys, and so worth the effort. My heart was smiling while my eyes filled with tears. Awesome book!" Patrick McMillan Founder, TeachingHappiness.com Author, An Exercise in Happiness for Ki