Becoming a parent can be daunting . . . terrifying, in fact. This is especially true for dads. Where’s the road map? Well, you’re looking at it. This book from the editors of Fatherly, the largest digital brand for dads, is a one-stop source for fathers-to-be, empowering them to be the best parent they can be--with both confidence and joy. New fathers grapple with both practical and existential questions: Is my baby supposed to do that? How do I afford to make my family thrive? How does swaddling work again? Who am I, and what kind of dad will I become? Fatherhood is here to answer all of these questions and more. This comprehensive guide walks fathers through everything they need to know--practically, emotionally, and philosophically--over the course of the first year of a baby’s life. The content is divided by developmental stage: Pregnancy up to birth Infancy (the first 500 days) Toddlerhood (days 500 to 1,000) By offering data, anecdotes, and expert-driven analysis, the authors prep dads for what’s ahead, letting them know they’re not alone on their journey. Fatherhood is the book every father and father-to-be needs.

A group of former gang members come together to help one another answer the question “How can I be a good father when I’ve never had one?” In 2010, former gang leader turned community activist Big Mike Cummings asked UCLA gang expert Jorja Leap to co-lead a group of men struggling to be better fathers in Watts, South Los Angeles, a neighborhood long burdened with a legacy of racialized poverty, violence, and incarceration. These men, black and brown, from late adolescence to middle age, are trying to heal themselves and their community, and above all to build their identities as fathers. Each week, they come together to help one another answer the question “How can I be a good father when I’ve never had one?” Project Fatherhood follows the lives of the men as they struggle with the pain of their own losses, the chronic pressures of poverty and unemployment, and the unquenchable desire to do better and provide more for the next generation. Although the group begins as a forum for them to discuss issues relating to their roles as parents, it slowly grows to mean much more: it becomes a place where they can share jokes and traumatic experiences, joys and sorrows. As the men repair their own lives and gain confidence, the group also becomes a place for them to plan and carry out activities to help the Watts community grow as well as thrive. By immersing herself in the lived experiences of those working to overcome their circumstances, Leap not only dramatically illustrates the realities of fathers trying to do the right thing, but she also paints a larger sociological portrait of how institutional injustices become manifest in the lives of ordinary people. At a time in which racial justice seems more elusive than ever—stymied by the generational cycles of mass incarceration and the cradle-to-prison pipeline—the group’s development over time demonstrates real-life movement toward solutions as the men help one another make their families and their community stronger.

Did you know that in the United States alone, more than one in four children live in a home without a father? When Alec Lace recognized this crisis and launched his parenting podcast 2018, his mission was simple: to give dads an opportunity to encourage others, by sharing the experiences and wisdom they’ve gained during their respective journeys. A few years and hundreds of interviews later--including with many high-profile dads from sports, media, politics, the military, and other industries--Alec has curated a rich collection of anecdotes that provides guidance and inspiration on a wide array of topics, including but not limited to Advice for about-to-be or new dads Finance and education Discipline Dating and social life Faith, values, and service Fitness and health, for both children and fathers How to be a fatherhood ambassador First Class Fatherhood will engage the reader with thought-provoking ideas and realistic solutions from fathers who have been through it all. Alec believes that being a father is the most important role a man can play in the game of life. And his hope is that this book will help change the narrative of fatherhood and family life, and greatly reduce the number of children growing up without a father in the home.

Matt and Liz Logelin were high school sweethearts. After years of long-distance dating, the pair finally settled together in Los Angeles, and they had it all: a perfect marriage, a gorgeous new home, and a baby girl on the way. Liz's pregnancy was rocky, but they welcomed Madeline, beautiful and healthy, into the world on March 24, 2008. Just twenty-seven hours later, Liz suffered a pulmonary embolism and died instantly, without ever holding the daughter whose arrival she had so eagerly awaited. Though confronted with devastating grief and the responsibilities of a new and single father, Matt did not surrender to devastation; he chose to keep moving forward-- to make a life for Maddy. In this memoir, Matt shares bittersweet and often humorous anecdotes of his courtship and marriage to Liz; of relying on his newborn daughter for the support that she unknowingly provided; and of the extraordinary online community of strangers who have become his friends. In honoring Liz's legacy, heartache has become solace.

Across the political spectrum, unwed fatherhood is denounced as one of the leading social problems of today. Doing the Best I Can is a strikingly rich, paradigm-shifting look at fatherhood among inner-city men often dismissed as "deadbeat dads." Kathryn Edin and Timothy J. Nelson examine how couples in challenging straits come together and get pregnant so quickly--without planning. The authors chronicle the high hopes for forging lasting family bonds that pregnancy inspires, and pinpoint the fatal flaws that often lead to the relationship's demise. They offer keen insight into a radical redefinition of family life where the father-child bond is central and parental ties are peripheral. Drawing on years of fieldwork, Doing the Best I Can shows how mammoth economic and cultural changes have transformed the meaning of fatherhood among the urban poor. Intimate interviews with more than 100 fathers make real the significant obstacles faced by low-income men at every step in the familial process: from the difficulties of romantic relationships, to decision-making dilemmas at conception, to the often celebratory moment of birth, and finally to the hardships that accompany the early years of the child's life, and beyond.

What They Are Saying About BREAKING THE RULES; TALES OF A PATERNITY LEAVE DAD "Jerry became the beacon of hope for dads throughout the country, if not the word because of his historic decision to put his family first. His journey down the path of parenting and being granted the first paternity leave will have a lasting effect on future national and global policies. Granting Jerry a paternity leave was one of the most profound decisions made by me and unanimously by members of the New York City Central Board of Education. Reading his Fun Book about how he raised his children, well, it was a treasured experience." Steve Aiello, Past President of the New York City Board of Education. "A story well told, with humor and sensitivity by the father awarded the first paternity leave from the New York City Board of Education 45 years ago." Dr. Hazel Dukes "" Past National President and Board Member, NAACP "Nothing is more important than our relationship with our families. It is the foundation for all we do. This book embraces those relationships and offers insight, encouragement and some humor that enriches us all. Jerry Cammarata is the Godfather of modern parenting." Nicholas Pileggi, Producer, author, and screenwriter. Among his notable works are Goodfellas, Casino, Father Hood, Blye, Private Eye, and City Hall. "Jerry's story provides reassurance by both Moms and Dads, especially in today's online world, that rule books and how-to-guides are not needed for parents or children, and that the greatest joy of parenting is making it up as you go along." Ron Kuby, Civil Rights Lawyer & former Radio Talk Show Host. "Jerry Cammarata has again written of the most essential books for parents and their children." Stan Corwin, author of THE CREATIVE WRITER'S COMPANION. "Government needs to listen to what Dr. Cammarata is saying about being able to enjoy parenting. Government and business must see the family as the center of our culture which will be the future success of our nation. Working toward a national family leave policy is another moment in our civil rights journey. Jerry gets it." David Paterson, Former Governor of New York. "What a marvelous story about finding human parenting skills through observing the animal kingdom, and to better understand how best to live on this planet. Every parent should read this book." Marilyn Vasta, Climate Activist and Psychotherapist.