The 5ive Key Habits of Smart Dads: A Powerful Strategy for Successful Fathering

by Paul Lewis

This hardcover book has nearly 200 pages presenting an entertaining and practical look at fathering priorities. Fathers in the 90s are waking up to their unique contributions to child development, and to the rewards of being much more than banker and disciplinarian. This book provides the insights needed to key values and attitudes,balance career and fathering responsibilities, avoid common fathering mistakes,and gain and keep your childs respect. This is a book whose time has come. Any man can become a father, but the art of fatherhood has yet to be mastered. Rosie Grier.

189 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1994

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Reviews

[The Book Man]

Lastly I realized that I’m enjoying a lot reading about ‘PARENTING’.
I know that there are some years ahead till I’ll be a partner and/or a daddy, but I believe there is never too LATE and/or there is never too EARLY to explore and learn more about becoming a successful father.

The author shares with the reader FIVE habits that smart dads should have.
I’m not going to write about these habits because I would love for you to read this book, but I’ll let you know just the fourth habit which obviously is one of my favorite :D

“Communicating Life Skills and Principles” That’s a very well explained chapter. I love it!
Dear parents,
Communicate with your children by a spirit of LOVE…and do not forget that children ‘spell’ love T-I-M-E ;) Remember!!! STRONG families COMMUNICATE with each other CLEARLY & REGULARLY.

DO NOT hurry your children to grow up too soon. Let each grow at his or her appropriate pace.
DO NOT rush yourself, either. Take time to develop the skills, knowledge, and habits that allow you to father your children well.
Paul Lewis also gives a lot of advises. In each page he writes a smart thought, or a smart idea, or a smart tip.
(I really love the tips he gives)

Here are a couple of my favorite quotes,
~ “Good fathering will become for you a growing habit that influences your children’s lives in an ongoing and cumulative manner.”
~ “Love is a verb, not a noun. LOVE is ACTION.”

I JUST WOULDN’T WANT TO MISS AN ETERNITY WITH MY KIDS – AND I DON’T THINK THEY WANT TO MISS IT WITH ME.

[JP]

It's useful reinforcement and has some worthy insights and an of real-life examples. I found the tire analogy a bit tiresome. The most powerful point he covers early (p.19-21). "A man in colonial America, for example, understood that he was responsible to [quoting words from bullet point format]: Provide for his family's material needs, model good citizenship by being politically informed and involved, educate his children and teach them a trade, understand theology and communicate absolute values to the next generation." The first of these is all that remains today, as school, media, and government have taken over the other three (if we let them, but it does explain the emptiness and wandering many fathers feel).