Fatherhood: The Truth
The only book I’ll ever read on being a father is Marcus Berkmann’s “Fatherhood The Truth”.
It’s comedy, tragedy, documentary. Yes, it shamefully tries to be everything except a medical manual, and manages quite well.
The pages are packed with insightful information on what do expect during and after the pregnancy, complications, how to deal with them, urges, feelings, fending off untimely visitors.
It has spawned a new phrase in our household. Whenever the marital rights are not forthcoming I am reminded that “my need for a man has lapsed”.
There is an imbalance in the book that I spotted. The chapter “Piss, Shit and Vomit” amounts to only ten pages or so. I expect in real life this will be a much, much bigger proportion of life ahead.
I’m no literary type, but this I enjoyed. Maybe it was the comic angle on almost everything, apart from the really worrying stuff (amniocentesis, anyone?).
It isn’t just his own experiences in there, there are others too, all from his friends and family. If the network of people around us are well matched to his, we’ll do well.
Comments
Well Zed and I will always be there for you guys...except for that aforementioned chapter!
Posted by: Richard Brunton | June 28, 2006 1:45 PM
What, no PS&V? That rules you out of coming to one of or "normal" BBQs then...
Posted by: Lee | July 7, 2006 2:24 PM
Yesterday I had a visit from an ip address that resolves to berkmann1.xxxxxxxx.xx.xx - could it be????
Posted by: Lee ? | September 5, 2006 6:19 PM
See also John Scalzi's "Law of Internet Invocation": http://www.scalzi.com/whatever/002643.html
Posted by: Martin Sutherland
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September 7, 2006 10:24 AM
That's a great post, thanks for the link, Martin.
BYW, do you really have the entire contents of the tinternet in your head? Some say not, but I disagree.
Posted by: Lee ? | September 7, 2006 6:05 PM
That's now 2 other dads-to-be and 1 (possibly 2) mums that have read this on my recommendation!
Posted by: Lee | January 16, 2007 8:42 PM