Are You a Caveman Dad or a Pirate Dad? Reviewing the Dad Parenting Guides.

re: Are You a Caveman Dad or a Pirate Dad? Reviewing the Dad Parenting Guides.

Lulu's mom — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:31:29 GMT

I agree with Santa's comment. Adults say, "What?" to each other all the time, and noone interprets it as disrespectful.

Also, let's not underestimate the potential of uncooked squid to prepare us for child-rearing. They're at least slightly more accurate than the flour-bags or raw eggs of junior high school Home Ec. :)

re: Are You a Caveman Dad or a Pirate Dad? Reviewing the Dad Parenting Guides.

Bunny — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:54:07 GMT

I really hope the Caveman Guide doesn't actually refer to Cro Magnons as Cro "Magnums".

I also think that the whole notion of treating men/dads like morons is pretty played out and was never very funny to begin with.

re: Are You a Caveman Dad or a Pirate Dad? Reviewing the Dad Parenting Guides.

Santa — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:34:11 GMT

I think that the tone used in answering "what" says it all - the word can be used in many ways. What is said is usually less important than how it's said; respect is never automatic, even when children "say" the right things...

re: Are You a Caveman Dad or a Pirate Dad? Reviewing the Dad Parenting Guides.

steph — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:48:03 GMT

i agree with the "what"? that the previous poster said - it is a habit to treat your children with respect, but it's a good habit to develop :) -

another great book for Dads to Be would have to be Be Prepared by Garry Greenberg and Jeannie Hayden.

http://www.beprepared.net/

It's totally funny and the '50s style PSA illustrations are fun all on their own. There would def. be "worst" advice in there as well, but as a mom of seven, i think it's a lot of good stuff in there that really takes into account the different way dads think...

re: Are You a Caveman Dad or a Pirate Dad? Reviewing the Dad Parenting Guides.

sara — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:04:22 GMT

I disagree with you about never answering your child by saying "What?" - I don't want her to answer ME that way when I call for her, and so why should there be a double standard?

re: Are You a Caveman Dad or a Pirate Dad? Reviewing the Dad Parenting Guides.

Liz — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:13:27 GMT

My husband liked one called "The Everything Father's First Year Book" fairly well. Definitely has lots of good, practical advice in there, without too much of the "you're an idiot" tone. I get so frustrated by things like these; on the one hand, lots of men simply don't have much experience caring for babies (didn't babysit in h.s./college, etc), and so really do need some advice, but then when the book is weird/stupid/condescending/etc, we wonder why they don't seem to want to help out as much as we thought they would.