Product Description

Are you a new father? Finally a book that you can read in less than one hour and will help now. This is a book written by a father for fathers - so it is your language! Are you a friend / relative / spouse of a new father and you are looking for the perfect gift? Or do you think they need help and they might not know it yet? This book is all about offering hope and encouragement for new fathers - which is the greatest gift you could give them as someone who cares about them. Be the person that offers them that gift.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2406408 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-09
• Binding: Paperback
• 84 pages

Review
As a mother of three boys, and a bookseller, I welcomed the debut book, So You're Gonna Be A DAD - Now What? by author, Scott Patchin, with excitement. Finally, a book for new fathers that is neither condescending nor filled with trite one-liners about changing dirty diapers. This slim book reads as if one of your best buddies was sitting next to you dishing out some hard-earned advice on everything from the importance of singing a bedtime lullaby to your child to how to watch the game and interact with your precious infant at the same time. Patchin's short chapters focus on being a better dad, a better spouse, and surviving the joys of parenting. The author shares stories from his own experiences raising four children which succinctly and poignantly illustrate the simple acts of love that lie at the heart of good parenting. Patchin includes questions at the end of each chapter for the reader to further ruminate on the topic and there is also room to journal one's feelings. Planned as the first book in a series to be called Moments Series for Fathers, the book is abundant with humor, practicality, and emotional truth. Patchin's advice is right on target (especially the sharing duties chapter!) and his experience in the trenches qualifies him as a mentor to a generation of young fathers. This would make the perfect gift for new dads for Father's Day (or any day). It should be noted that this book could be read in one sitting, in between changing that diaper and getting up to pace the floor in the wee hours. --Michele Lonergan, Urban Street Magazine

Scott Patchin compares some first-time dads to men who refuse to ask for directions when they're lost. Sometimes, as dads, we don't ask for help or don't ask a lot of questions, said Patchin, 42. We need support around us. We need to check in with others. Patchin believes his first book, So You're Gonna Be a Dad -- Now What? (Credo House Publishers, $9.99) can help bridge the uncertainty men feel when they become fathers. The book unveils for freshman fathers pithy tips to make the early years of childhood a rewarding experience for them and their children. The 78 page quick read tackles real-life scenarios with a humorous bent, such as how to respond when little ones act up in public, cleaning poop from the carpet after a diaper change didn't go as planned and why dads should make time to play with their children when the would rather snooze in the easy chair. Each of the books 23 chapters shuns a preachy tone. Each chapter concludes with questions for dads to ponder, with space provided for them to write their thoughts. "The intent is to create conversations," said Patchin, who lives in Holland with his wife, Jenny, and four children. "Fathers could sit down with a friend and read a chapter. I really believe it is critical. Lots of books have lots of information, but it's hard to digest and put into action. With my book, more is less." Patchin said he hopes his book will serve as a path for men to find encouragement and wisdom to be great dads, and to find a listening ear from a relative or friend who will help them in their journey. "Every time we hit a moment, we have a choice," said Patchin. "Do I play with my child? That hits me all the time, and it's usually a moment when the kids want to play when I am reading the paper." --Paul Kopenkoskey, Grand Rapids Press

About the Author
Scott Patchin is a father of four and a husband of one. He has made a career of his passion for helping people through transitions as a leadership and career development trainer and coach. He realizes less is often more and, if we listen, there is often wisdom around us that makes almost anything that is new to us easier. He wrote this book because of his own realization after child number three that it could have been easier if he just would have known a couple of things. Scott lives in Michigan with his family and, when not writing or working, can be found enjoying the water and woods with his family and friends.

Customer Reviews

The PERFECT gift for the new Father!
I was looking for a perfect gift for a couple who was pregnant. Being the father of three young children, I knew that my wife had a choice of dozens of books for being a better mother. Where were the books on fatherhood? In 78 pages Patchin writes 20 chapters that quickly show you how small adjustments in attitude, behavior, and awareness can make all the difference in the world. Mostly, this book speaks to the precious moments that too many fathers miss as they struggle to understand their new role. Humorous, enjoyable, actionable, and fun are the best way to describe this book of wonderful stories. I especially liked how Patchin tried to get the reader to share and document their thoughts as they read (a tough thing for us macho men!). A true treasure for the new father! Enjoy...