Customer Reviews

Daddy Daughter Dinner Dance: A Father's Steps to a Blended Family That Really Works

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This extraordinary book is so heartfelt and beautiful. It is a testimonial on how families any families can find a way to care for one another though they may not be your "everyday" tradtional
family. Indias drawings, and singing voice are amazing. In addtion to the book being absolutely delightful,the music CD is so special. "How do you say I love you?"-- you just say it.
This is a must read for anyone who has a heart. It is infectious with love! Hurry and write another one, Bill Quateman-- you're making a positive change in this world, and this is a gift to all of us!

The world is full of "how-to's"... and I read this book as more of a "how about"...

How about we look at things differently? How about we dare to let our children teach us about humanity? How about we celebrate the tiniest moments as if they were life-changing events? (because they are, you know...)

I thoroughly enjoyed this gem of a book... and the life lessons captured in the vignettes of love and adoration that flow between parent and child. We should all aspire to stop, look and listen... this way.

Daddy Daughter Dinner Dance takes family values back to where they once were long ago. Although not tradtional in nature the displays of love and caring teach us all how to care. What a beautiful parent to take the time to see the beauty of all the
lovely drawings and make poetry out of each of them,while most of us hang our childrens drawings on the refrigerator and then file them somewhere,Bill teaches us the beauty in what we as parents can learn from our most precious gifts, our children.

Quateman breaks life down to it's lowest common denominator-the heart. Through his daughter's pictures and his touchingly open essays, we see for ourselves that there need be no boundaries when it comes to blending our families together.

The love in this book is a soulful eclispe that leaves its readers knowing all beauty is possible in every kind of family no matter the circumstances. Bill and India have touched on the most important relationship between a Daddy and his precious daughter. This book is a treasure, a teaching tool for parents,teachers,and psychologists as a model to follow."Daddy Daughter Dinner Dance" gives us life lessons that come straight from the heart.

More 66% of families now days are consisted of "Broken Homes" or divorced parents. This causes much confusion especially for the son or daughter that has to go through the transit between different rules and structure. I have witnessed this first hand as my parents divorced when i was about seven or eight. It was tough having to understand the meaning to all this and often time blamed myself for the splitting of my parents. Myself just ending my teen years, read this book and look back and recognizing the value family communication and how important it is for the family to come together despite their differences. I believe this book is a cheat-sheet to parenting and helps guide you as a parent to bettering your relationship with the rest of your family. I strongly encourage you to take a look at this book because I think everyone needs a little cheat-sheet once in a while. =P

-dylan age 17

There's humor, insight, stories and wisdom on how to be with kids and each other, poetry, great songs and thought-provoking ideas about how we can take good care of ourselves and our families.

"Daddy Daughter Dinner Dance" is a delightful compilation and gives wonderful examples of how we can come together and make our families safe and caring places to grow in.

Just like "Everything I Know I Learned in Kindergarten," this is like a guide-book for life that could help children of all ages live better. I'm giving it to all my friends, it's the perfect gift. A much needed breath of real fresh air about families, it's bound to become a classic.

...and Quateman is not only a real man but a real good Daddy. Focusing on real world experiences and hard won wisdom, the former rocker who chose fatherhood over Hollywood, puts the same passion and insight that goes into his lyrics (still rocking steady, actually, over in California), into his writing. And daughter India's precocious, other worldly drawings add subtext even Daddy can't top. Together, they've created a little gem. I'd show up at any kinda party these two decided to throw--what a fun pair!

This book is truly a gift to the reader. Bill and daughter, India, invite us into shared tenderness and a playful compassion that many of us long for. They show the reader a way for parents and kids to connect that overrides roles and age differences, yet exudes respect, caring and a commitment to having fun whenever possible. This seems particularly challenging in a blended family such as their's, yet Bill sensitively and joyously succeeds in showing us how.
Nicely spiced with wise perspectives. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in the discovery of the inherent, potential magic in relationships...any relationship.
The CD included is also a treat.

A good friend told me about this book and I was so thrilled to find something like this out there to help the growing number of parents and children who are part of step families. I grew up with a stepfather and now am a stepfather myself. It was because of my own experience growing up that I was able to cope with the challenges of being a stepfather yet still had many unanswered questions. The hardest part is realizing that this is not uncommon, the best thing that this book does is to help both children and parents realize that being part of a step family is more common than we all think.

I especially love the fact that the author has included his daughter as the co-author and created a way for parents and children to talk about and identify their own family using this book as a guide. This is a wonderful way to make children and parents who feel unconnected more connected. It creates a feeling of immense support and that is the best way to help anyone deal with the challenges of life in any environment.

The family is the core and this book let's us know that the many different identities and definitions of a family today are all acceptable, the most important things are love, support and structure. The traditional biological family has taken a beating with the increasing rate of divorce and this book let's us know that the family that develops in the aftermath is just as important and can be just as wonderful and nurturing.

I can't recommend this book enough to parents who may be struggling to help their children understand and cope with being part of a step/blended family. This book will provide a way to start talking to your child and help you both understand it all better.