Every parent dreams of having a happy, healthy child. What happens when these dreams are shattered by a physical or cognitive disability? A Different Kind of Perfect offers comfort, consolation, and wisdom from parents who have been there—and are finding their way through. The writings collected here are grouped into chapters reflecting the progressive stages of many parents' emotional journeys, starting with grief, denial, and anger and moving towards acceptance, empowerment, laughter, and even joy. Each chapter opens with an introduction by Neil Nicoll, a child and family psychologist who…
red dot icon
Journal Article Recent trends in marriage and fertility have increased the number of adults having children by more than 1 partner, a phenomenon that we refer to as multipartnered fertility. This article uses data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to examine the prevalence and correlates of multipartnered fertility among urban parents of a recent birth cohort (N = 4,300). We find that unmarried parents are much more likely to have had a child by a previous partner than married parents. Also, race/ethnicity is strongly associated with multipartnered fertility, as is mothers' young age at…
red dot icon
Journal Article In "Fatherhood, Cohabitation, and Marriage," Wade F. Horn, Assistant Secretary for Children and Families at the Department of Health and Human Services, summarizes the importance of fathers to child well-being. He explains that "fatherlessness is a significant risk factor for poor developmental outcomes for children." This connection has led some observers to view cohabitation as a substitute or at least an alternative to marriage. Horn argues, however, that marriage is the best option for children and that cohabitation is a weak family structure compared with marriage. Children in households…
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. Even the minority of black men who do live with their children often struggle with the role. 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…
red dot icon
Journal Article The present study was designed to shed light on the relation between parenting stress, father's alcohol use, child characteristics and father's engagement and availability. The study cohort comprised 821 fathers of preschool children in Finland. Parenting stress and child's mood, acceptability and demandingness were related to father's engagement to the preschooler and to the extent of the father's availability. Parenting stress began a cycle of alcohol abuse and child-negative characteristics, and eventually led to a decrease in joint father-child activities, father's feeling of…
Good dads are almost as rare as fire-breathing dragons--or at least so it seems. New from Donald Miller, author of the critically acclaimed Blue Like Jazz, comes a gut-wrenchingly honest look at growing up without a father. In a unique, literary style, Donald and John MacMurray--the man who taught Donald the things his dad never did--encourage readers to both recognize and leave behind the disappointment and emotional scars marked by having absent earthly fathers. (Author abstract)
Voices of African-American Teen Fathers is an insightful look at adolescent pregnancy and parenthood through the eyes of fathers aged 14 to 19. This unique book features candid interviews with thirty teens who talk about "doing what I got to do"-handling their responsibilities as best they can given their perceptions, limitations, and life experiences. Teens talk about how and why they became fathers, how they handle being a parent, their perceptions of fatherhood, the relationships they have with their parents and the mothers of their children, and how they deal with the everyday struggles,…
No one knows new fathers better than the 150,000 men from across the nation who have participated in Boot Camp for New Dads workshops. This comprehensive guide offers their collective wisdom and real life advice. Like the workshops, it provides the orientation a new father needs to support his wife, confidently connect with his new child and personally navigate the initial year of fatherhood.
Men come in all types, respect each other's ability to make their own choices, and their only agenda is to learn how to do their best for their new families. A must for any man wanting a solid…
This step-by-step guide to fatherhood helps dads improve their parenting skills and increase their involvement in their child's life. Highlights the special role dads can play, the rewards they can enjoy, and tips tht help them participate in parenting even before their child's birth. Includes practical advice on parenting children from birth through the teen years. (Author abstract)Esta guía paso a paso para la paternidad ayuda a los padres a mejorar sus habilidades de crianza y aumenta su participación en la vida de sus hijos. La guía destaca el papel especial que los papás pueden jugar,…
After the publication of Tim Russert's #1 New York Times bestseller about his father, Big Russ & Me, he received an avalanche of letters from daughters and sons who wanted to tell him about their own fathers, ordinary men who were remembered and cherished for some of their best moments-- of advice, tenderness, strength, honor, discipline, and occasional eccentricity. As many fathers come to discover: Sometimes it is the little moments that can make a big difference for your child.
This book is for all fathers, young or old. Heartfelt, humorous, engaging, irresistibly readable,…
