So I’ve already given you books to encourage you as dads, but what about books to give you real practical advice on the subject? There are plenty to choose from, but I’m only going to give you the ones I’m familiar with.
My most recent pickup is Raising Boys To Be Like Jesus by Sharon Norris Elliott (another panelist from the AV Writer’s Conference). What’s cool about this book is that it breaks Jesus’ life down into different stages and relates these to the stages of development of our children.
When my firstborn son turned one, I made it a priority to read Bringing Up Boys by Dr. James Dobson. Say what you will about his politics, but the guy knows his stuff when it comes to raising a family. This was a great read and very helpful. (Come to think of it, I’m due for a refresher.)
Finally, the series that turned me on to Living On The Edge was House or Home. Listen to this series or read the related book, Effective Parenting in a Defective World by Chip Ingram. (Hmm, didn’t realize there was a message series to go along with that, I’m going to have to pick that up.)
As you can see, this is pretty son-centric. I’m now blessed with a beautiful young girl, so I’m looking for books specifically for fathering girls. If you have any suggestions, please drop me a line!