There is no romantic love or fantasy here. Nor a wasted word. This book
though, is a love story, but it is not the one men are known for dreaming.
The brand of love spoken throughout this book is what many men yearn for
most of their lives. Will Glennon and over 100 fathers and children guide
the reader towards a love that deepens in time and isn’t conditional.
This
highly quotable author and the excerpts contained within, show how with
diligence and a lifetime commitment to somebody more important than
oneself, this deep feeling of love and being connected, is obtainable and
is within almost any man’s capabilities. Enter this book at the risk of
being anchored (read anchored not weighed down) to the child you’ve brought
into this world--no matter the cost. Fathering poignantly reveals one of
the universal stories--too often untold and hidden in men’s hearts, too
often spoken only through their gift of long hours of work and quiet tears
cried alone.
Fathering is the untold, almost secret story of the
love-bond and gift between men and their children. If you didn’t know men
could read their hearts table of contents and speak so eloquently about
what is truly important--their children--sit down and welcome the deep
pleasure of male wisdom. And if you do know how children forge and mold
and melt a man into another whole being called father, then read this book
just for the pleasure and the great tips on how to be even more accessible
or emotionally available to your children. Read this book to learn more
about sharing, giving, being and expressing the quality of love we only
think we can experience through romantic love.
Open this book practically anywhere and you’re going to be informed,
entertained and deeply touched. One dad whose wife was seriously injured
in a car accident came home to his kids hunkered down like scared animals,
not knowing anything about the accident, but knowing mom wasn’t home and
they didn’t know how to reach their dad, asked himself “What had I been
thinking?” When things settled down he made them memorize all his phone
numbers and his calling card number so they could reach him anytime,
anywhere. Together they also devised codes for his beeper. 111 meant “I
really, really, need to talk to you”; 222 was for “Boy, I’d sure like to
talk to you if possible”; and 333 for” Call me-I’m bored.” “Then my
daughter came up with a fourth code, XOXOXO for 'I love you daddy.' Boy,
do I love getting those XOXOXO pages.”
This is my favorite book on my favorite topic. I cannot recommend this
book highly enough. It is specifically useful for new fathers, for men
thinking about becoming fathers, for men scared about what is going to
happen to them now that they’ve been informed they’re a father to be, for
men separated from their children because of long distances, emotional
chasms or brutal verbal lashings from their children, or child(s)’s mom or
the court system. It is useful for fathers who are deeply involved in
their children’s lives and want to strengthen their already powerful bond.
It is also an excellent resource for women to learn about the depth and
breadth of Father love.
This book is useful and practical and serious and funny and the only thing
I regret about it is that I didn’t write it myself. There is no
fingerpointing or shaming about being any kind of man, just deep, powerful
revelatory reasons and hints of strengthening connection with your
children no matter where you are. This book reveals the full blown
capacity of the father-child bond. Unbeknownst to many, it is often a
beautiful love story. Buy this book and pass it out, like men of old passed
out cigars-- for the joy and pain and welcoming of oneself or a brother
into the fraternity of daddydom.
