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The Man Who Would Be Dad
by Hogan Hilling
"As
Tina gently embraced our firstborn son, Grant, she greeted him with
a glowing 'Hi, Sweetie.' I marveled at the look in her eyes and
was captivated by her breathtaking affection for the baby. This
child was everything she had hoped for and more. When I held Grant
for the first time, it felt awkward and anticlimactic. The right
words failed me..."
As
I read the opening to The
Man Who Would Be Dad, I wondered how many, many fathers would
identify with those words. We, as moms, often begin bonding with
our babies within hours of discovering two solid lines on the pregnancy
test. Fathers, while caring and supportive of the maternal pregnancy
and birth process, are more or less on the outside peeking in. Immune
from morning sickness, indigestion, bulging bellies and stretch
marks, they are at a bonding disadvantage. Bonding is a tricky process,
one that our author describes with affection, honesty and humor,
from the delivery room through sleepless nights, calls to the doctor,
kindergarten graduation and many childhood lessons.
Hogan
chose to be a stay-at-home dad to his three sons, a decision that
he and his wife worked through with communication, understanding
and great care. Any set of parents who are considering this decision
will find this book a helpful guide, full of heartwarming moments
as well as tricky stumbling blocks. We are touched with empathy
as Hilling chronicles his breakthrough into the circle of moms in
the toddler group. We also become surprisingly aware of the walls
that separate moms and dads and the roles society has set up for
each. We even learn a few new parenting tactics! With more dads
like Hilling, our children will discover that either can parent
just as well, in their own wonderful way.
The
Man Who Would Be Dad is not just another "dad book."
This is a warm, humorous and wise passage through the heart and
soul of a man who truly understands what parenting is all about.
It is also a book that I connected with personally. As I read each
story I could see my own son, a young, new father, who participates
in all aspects of parenting. Hilling's example comes at a time when
we see more and more dads carrying diaper bags, attending school
meetings and bringing their children to their appointments and activities.
It's a good time to be a dad! And Hilling reminds us that "any
man can make a baby. It takes a real man to raise a child."
Thank you, Hogan Hilling.
About the Author
Hogan Hilling
is a father, first, last and foremost. He co-founded the Fathers
Network of Orange County (CA) and organized a Dad's Club at his
children's elementary school. For five years he was an instructor
for an expectant dads program at Irvine Medical Center in Irvine,
California, and he helped design an expectant parents program for
Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo. He is currently developing a
motivational workshop program for all fathers called Proud Dads.
To Purchase:
• The Man Who Would Be Dad at Amazon.com
• The Man Who Would Be Dad at Amazon UK
• The Man Who Would Be Dad at Amazon Canada
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