Adventures of a stay-at-home home dad - for moms too!
Rating:
5 / 5
This book is absolutely hilarious! It is warm, funny, smart, and should be read by dads AND moms alike. Ladies, don't let the title sway you from picking this up.
David Eddie details his days as a bachelor wonderfully, complete with descriptions of his apartment such as putting food out on his "trunk/coffee table in his living/dining/bedroom/study area". He leaves this swinging lifestyle for Pam, "Ms.Right", and they purchase a home across from a mental health center. The irony of raising a child, (a job that can be mentally stressful at times as any parent knows), across from an actual mental health center was just too funny for me!
David Eddie and Pam married when she was 5 months pregnant with their son, and due to several lay offs for David and Pam's growing career, he ultimately becomes the stay-at-home parent to their little boy Nicholas. He talks about middle of the night wake ups, people making unsolicited comments on his parenting in public, and finding adventure in his neighborhood. He gives advice on methods of child rearing that have come to work for him, and commiserates on topics that any parent can appreciate, such as "Nap Time: Your Window to Sanity".
I love this book because it's a real life account of a 'househusband', but it's just as touching and funny for me as a woman and mother. I was touched and amused by a father's point of view on his child coming into the world; as he put it, "he felt anxiety and protectiveness toward him and hoped he would always be warm and dry in the world and find happiness". His stories about the birth experience, his relationship with Pam before and after baby, vacationing, all ring true and made me laugh out loud. It's great that he takes over what is usually considered a 'mother/female role', and keeps his masculinity in tact. He manages to be nuturing and 'just one of the guys' at the same time.
Kudos to David Eddie, personally AND professionally!!
REQUIRED READING FOR PARENTS
Rating:
5 / 5
This very funny take on fatherhood by Mr. Eddy should have a place of honour on every new parent's bookshelf-right alongside whichever overly earnest new authority is the current guru on childrearing.Dead-on in its insights into parenting and family life,it's the perfect antidote to the notion that marriage and babies is the end to life as we know it.
Punk to Pa book a riot
Rating:
5 / 5
Housebroken is a book about parenting for people who aren�t interested in books about parenting. Finally, a witty, playful AND philosophical take on the biggest decision of your life, by one of the funniest authors of our day. Eddie�s new book is a fresh break from the slightly bitter, bleary eyed assessments of this ancient art: You don�t get any sleep? You don�t say! Instead of whining about scraping applesauce off the walls for 10 pages, Housebroken explores new ground with the kind of details you�ve always want to know, especially for lads: Is it possible to still be cool as a Dad? What happens to your mojo? Your sex life? What REALLY changes? What do you actually need to know to be a Dad? It�s all here in Housebroken for the anxious Dad-to-be. Think About A Boy meets Bukowski and you�re getting warm. Eddie�s transition from Cad to Dad is the story for every man who is taking the leap or even just thinking about it. That mysterious gap between the single life and fatherhood is traversed with enough insight and original humor to give the nervous newcomer a very clear idea of what to expect. Still, it�s not a dude book exclusively. For all those girls out there wondering about that tormented clown expression on your man�s face whenever the subject of children comes up � read this! Whether you�re a parent in waiting, just flirting with the idea or sure you�re not going to breed, Housebroken is a hilarious and inspiring read, the first of it�s kind on the topic of domestic Dads.
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