Books for Moms and Dads

Here is something which really bothers me: Our friend Lisa bought us two books upon learning that we were pregnant. The book for Nikki was The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy. It seemed quietly detailed with practical advice for the expectant mom and provides scientific references were needed. Now the book that was for me, the father, the husband, the man. It is called “My Boys Can Swim”. (Slightly dumb title since we already know that!)The book is about 20 pages filled with semi-comical scenarios. I finished that book in about 2 minutes. Now, while entertaining reading, I can’t say that it would help me as a man expecting a baby in a couple of months. Granted, the biological changes are felt by the mom-to-be but making light hearted jokes about these natural changes does not make me handle the situation any better. So my rant is about needed a more edifying book that will enable me as a husband to better understand pregnancy. I am sure there are out there but most I find are written in a condescending way as if the male brain is not capable of grasping the occasion. Part of the problem is that men need to take their role more seriously and women need to stop treating them in a condensing manner. If you doubt what I am saying look at the books and pay attention to who writes them and the tone when it comes to pregnancy and men.

Let me be the first here to say that there is no way that I will ever understand in minute detail all that is happening. After all I can’t even make out the baby on the sonogram. But at least something that helps me understand the effects of things on the baby still in the womb would be helpful. Case in point: the other night Nicholas was kicking for hours and of course we were wondering why. Well we made a major purchase that caused us some anxious moments and the baby does respond to the mom’s mood. I think that is important to know. That bit of information came from the book “What to Expect When You’re Expecting.” (Somehow I think the book was written more for mommies than daddies).

So I find myself reading the books that were written for Mommy (although only specific chapters that pertain to something I want to know). And quite frankly I think it makes me be able to appreciate the fact that we are pregnant and play my role effectively (although you may have to ask Nikki about that).