Great Gift Idea for First Time Dads : Fatherhood is Not for Sissies

It is fairly common that when a new mom has a baby she receives some gifts to help her ease into her new role--keepsake frames, soothing lotion, giftcards for spa services. What about the new dads? They seem to be neglected sometimes, as if they only aided in conception and are just there for moral or financial support. They too need support and encouragement, since being a father, just like being a mother, can often be a challenging task.

When my first child was born, my husband received a gift from another dad that was just right: Fatherhood is Not for Sissies , a book of quotes and pictures that introduces a new dad to the world of being a father.

Compiled by Evelyn Beilenson, the book is meant to show dads how loved and appreciated they are. In the introduction, Ms. Beilenson asks the question, “What other job description requires a 24/7 commitment the likes of which only a parent can imagine? Take any other job. Then supersize it. And supersize it again. Ok, you get the picture.” What a great introduction to parenthood!

Being a parent is a 24/7 job, and certainly not an easy one. This book tries to ease the fears of new fathers by providing inspiring and humorous quotes about being a father and photographs of fathers and their children. It includes quotes from celebrities, like Burt Reynolds and Bill Cosby, and other famous sayings and proverbs.

Here’s a small sampling of what’s inside:

“I felt something impossible for me to explain in words. Then when they took her away, it hit me. I got scared all over again and began to feel giddy. Then it came to me—I was a father.” Nat King Cole

“A father today has disposable diapers and plastic bottles. The only thing left to invent is a plastic toy that will hit the floor then bounce back into the crib again”. Bill Cosby

“It is a glorious day when a father is born”. Barbara Paulding

“People who say they sleep like babies usually don’t have them.” Leo J. Burke

As I said, this book could be a great gift for a first time dad, but it also could be a great gift for a father who needs a good laugh and encouragement. It’s a way of saying, just as Beilenson did in her introduction, “Here’s to you, Dad. You’re the Man!”.

©ThePracticalMommy