The Good Dad: Becoming the Father You Were Meant to Be by Jim Daly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
As someone who grew up under similar circumstances (i.e. without a father), I can totally relate to what Jim Daly, President and CEO of Focus on the Family, wrote in his book. The religious overtones may turn you off, but don’t let it.
Some people may also find it ironic that a guy who has had a dysfunctional childhood would go on to become president of Focus on the Family. Like Steve Jobs, Daly didn’t simply connect the dots when he joined the organisation. Instead, his turbulent childhood convinced him the critical importance of fathers, if only they’d shown up.
While one of the traditional duties of a father that hasn’t changed too much is that of primary disciplinarian, the author argues that disciplinary methods need to be supportive, rather than punitive. To do so, he suggests that we should cut down on the number of rules because the more rules children have to follow, the more opportunities they have to break one.
At the end of each chapter, there are several thought-provoking questions to think about. These are useful for self-reflection and for charting the direction you would like to take in your fathering role.
