FatherTime: Stories on the Heart and Soul of Fathering [Paperback]

Chris Frey (Author), Chris Scribner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2, 2001

FatherTime inspires and challenges parents toward a greater understanding of the art of fathering. The book provides a model of strong, loving fathering followed by a series of 52 brief stories which, like parenting itself, are by turns poignant, sharp-edged, and laugh-out-loud funny. The stories reveal universal themes of fathering through moments on the job that will echo the reader’s experience -- the wonder and fear of childbirth, the death of a boy's own father, weaning a toddler from the pacifier, divorce, learning to swim, the first baseball glove, a teenager's first date.

Editorial Reviews

Review

... an extraordinary tapestry of fathering that poignantly mirrors what I have been and what I could be as a father. -- JIM HOWARD, Director, Missouri Lawyers Assistance Program

...[offers] the best teaching of all, the kind that comes from day-to-day lived experience ... narrated from the... the heart. -- PETER CLOTHIER, author of While I Am Not Afraid: Secrets of a Man's Heart

FATHERTIME breaks through [the] destructive myth ... that only women know how to nurture, support and love. -- JUDITH SHERVEN, PH.D. AND JIM SNIECHOWSKI, Ph.D. authors of The New Intimacy

For too long it has been believed that only women... nurture, support, love. FatherTime breaks through that destructive myth. -- Judith Sherven, PhD and James Sniechowski, PhD, authors of The new Intimacy and Opening to Love 365 Days A Year

This insirational book struck a deep chord in this son and will touch every father. -- John Lee, author of Flying Boy I, II, and III

This wonderful, inspirational book struck a deep chord in this son and will touch every father. -- JOHN LEE, author of Flying Boy, Writing From The Body, Facing The Fire, and At My Father's Wedding

Your kids will benefit profoundly from you reading this hip, laugh-out-loud, tear-touching, enjoyable book. -- BILL KAUTH, author of A Circle of Men: The Original Manual for Men’s Support Groups

From the Publisher

Here is a book for parents and parents-to-be who seek to strengthen the role of healthy fathers in the lives of children. Chris Scribner and Chris Frey have crafted 52 stories, 52 opportunities for men and women to be inspired, educated, and challenged toward a greater understanding of the art of fathering. Chris and Chris both carry into this book their extensive experience as psychotherapists, teachers and retreat leaders. However, the true beauty of FATHERTIME is that these men are coming to us first and foremost as fathers and sons, sharing their hearts with us and only then offering the benefit of their professional insights. These men highlight a broad spectrum of issues in fathering by sharing the lessons gleaned from their own on-the-job training.

I first became aware of Chris Frey’s work in 1997 through his book, MEN AT WORK: AN ACTION GUIDE TO MASCULINE HEALING, which reflected a deep commitment to developing models for healthy masculinity. In FATHERTIME, his passionate and practical approach is joined by the ringing clarity and heart-felt evocativeness of Chris Scribner’s voice. In unison, they offer inspiration, and they challenge men to reach deep to achieve their full potential as fathers.

Like parenting itself, the stories in this book are by turns poignant, joyous, sharp-edged, and funny. They show and acknowledge mistakes, and report and build upon successes. I encourage you to let yourself be drawn in as these stories echo and amplify your own particular life experiences.

Ponder the wonder and fear of childbirth, the grief of a father’s death, weaning a toddler from the pacifier, a teenager’s first date. Enter the world of the father and child through squirt guns, bicycling, baseball gloves, divorce, and remarriage. And, perhaps most importantly in a culture where men often struggle in isolation and disconnection, each story invites you to step further into the world of common experience shared by fathers.

In much of my own writing, I describe what boys need to become strong, responsible, sensitive men. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually present fathers provide an essential cornerstone in the development of boys and girls. As you proceed through FATHERTIME, you will encounter fathers and mentors who are such men. I trust you will be enlightened by the honesty, strength, humanity, and wit contained in these pages. I hope you will be energized by Chris and Chris, and awakened to a more conscious type of fathering in your own life. Best wishes on your journey.

(from the foreword by Michael Gurian, author of THE WONDER OF BOYS and A FINE YOUNG MAN)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Insight Output (January 2, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970261004
• ISBN-13: 978-0970261007
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,582,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fathering With Heart, February 1, 2001

By 

Don Wesemann (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: FatherTime: Stories on the Heart and Soul of Fathering (Paperback)

FatherTime by Chris Scribner, Ph.D. and Chris Frey, MSW started out as the private journals of two men, writing notes to themselves to preserve memories of their childhood and their experiences as fathers. Perhaps that is why it is one of those books in which the authors open their hearts to share deeply of themselves and inspire the reader to open their own heart to receive what is offered. FatherTime is a gift of the heart; of two hearts. Here are stories of connection, love and admiration for their own fathers, as well as the bittersweetness of old healed wounds of childhood. FatherTime reveals that the authors, through the alchemy of their own internal work, have transformed their histories into great strengths of manhood and fatherhood; gifts of love, insight, and nurturing for the next generation. And for the rest of us fathers on the same path. The old paradigm of mothers as closer nurturers and fathers as more distant providers is fading. Fathers must be helped to see the impact they have upon the social, emotional and spiritual well-being of their sons and daughters. Both sons and daughters need to receive healthy masculine nurturing as well as feminine energy. In the past fathers have been too easily marginalized as being too emotionally shutdown to be nurturing, and therefore incapable of providing a role model for healthy adulthood, and healthy masculinity. Frey and Scribner are leading the way in demonstrating that men can be loving, sensitive, compassionate and nurturing toward children. And that men have value in the wisdom they bring. Especially out of their inner work, for our strengths as men and fathers comes as much from our healed wounds as from our blessings received. Frey and Scribner are writing about the fathers we all want to be; the gift we want to bring to our children from the core of who we are. FatherTime is best read with tears; tears of sadness and regret, tears of healing, tears of relief at the recognition of our common human experience, tears of joy and hope. Your reading will be a gift to your father, to yourself, and to your children. The hearts of these two men will change and empower the hearts of many men. Read this book....for yourself, and for the children of the world.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Refreshing, Personal Look at Fathering, April 7, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: FatherTime: Stories on the Heart and Soul of Fathering (Paperback)

FATHERTIME provides a refreshing, personal look at fathering, very different from other books on the issue which are more analytical and detached . . . Many fathers will identify with [these stories], and fathers-to-be will draw great benefit as well . . . a series of 52 brief but inspiring stories . . . a delight to read.

--excerpted from EVERYMAN: A Men's Journal, #48, April/May, 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars For future fathers., July 12, 2001

By 

Doug (St. Louis, MO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: FatherTime: Stories on the Heart and Soul of Fathering (Paperback)

I enjoyed reading this book. It was an easy read that I could just pick up and go with any time. It is a good book for filling in the small amounts of wasted time you find waiting for things. I could relate to many of the stories. I think this book could be especially useful to a new father that may not be sure of himself or his roll as a father. Many fathers feel the way you feel and many things should not be totally unexpected after reading this book.