Book Review

Book Review: Barb

                While taking a Fatherhood class at The University of Utah I was required to read “Father Need” by Kyle D Pruett, M.D. I love this book because many of the books we read are about roles mothers take in their children’s lives. This book is about the father’s role. Dr. Pruett addresses how important fathers are in their lives even if he doesn’t live with the children.

                In the first chapter of this book Dr. Pruett teaches us how fathers parent their children differently than mothers.  For example; mothers will calmly sweetly talk to their baby while changing the baby’s diaper. If the father is changing the baby then it becomes more of a game and involves tickling or flying the baby like an airplane. Is there any wonder if a baby is tired a ready to calm down he/she may want Mom. However if the baby is awake and ready to play he/she may show a strong preference for Daddy, Pruett research has shown that children thrive on having both kinds of parents or in other words having both a mom and a dad.

                Dr. Pruett has a chapter in the book devoted to divorce and the need that children still have for their fathers and the need fathers still have for their children. Children so not handle parental conflict well. The better the parents can get along especially in front of the children the happier the children will be ,and the better they will be able to cope with the stress that and unhappiness during and after the divorce of their parents. Dr. Pruett also teaches that the more involved the father is in his children’s lives the less likely he will leave his children. He will want to be there for them. He addresses Mothers on this issue counseling them not to close the gate to their children. Mother can be too protective of their children and not allow the Dads access to the kids. The earlier the dad gets involved with his kids the better dad he will be and the better the outcome for the children. Dr. Pruett strongly recommends starting in the delivery room. Dads need to be there for the mom and the baby!

                 I would recommend this book to all parents, married, single, divorced and even widowed. I found this book helpful in dealing with the father of my own children, and we have been divorced for over 12 years. I would recommend this book to expectant couples. They can read it together as they await the birth of their first child. This book is based on research done by Dr. Pruett and many others. This book is easy to understand and worth the time it takes to read it. I hope you gain as much from the book as I did.

Reference:

Kyle D Pruett, M. (2000). Father need Why Father Care is as Essential as Mother Care for Your Child. New York: Broadway Books.