Customer Reviews

The Sixty Minute Father: How Time Well Spent Can Change Your Child's Life

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This short book uses numerous stories to paint emotional word-pictures of values that every dad shares in life and enumerates the key forces that constantly attempt to relegate those values to the back-burner. In a very encouraging and non-threatening manner, this book articulates these values in a way that enables the reader to get a handle on them that won't be easily pried loose by the many demands on our time. It does not deal with parenting techniques, but with paradigm shifts and focus. It enables the reader to mentally fast-forward their lives 10-20 years ahead and determine if the choices they are making today will then be viewed as wise choices or as deep regrets.

The author so vividly points out that we have only so many opportunities with our children to share special moments together and that this window of childhood closes so suddenly and unexpectedly. We are encouraged to try not to miss one of them - herein lies the memories that will be treasured for a lifetime by you and your child. We may be very astute at grasping every career advancement opportunity that presents itself to us; this book challenges us to not allow the quiet windows of opportunity with our children to pass by, as if these windows will never close. We are shown in a very realistic way that without a concerted effort on our part, time will play its trick on us, and the day will arrive that the father now has time, but the window of opportunity is shut.

This book will help each of us realize that a 'slower day' is not coming, and that if we want to build bonds with our children that will last, we must 'seize the day' today. We are reminded that somebody else will one day take our place at the office, but nobody else will ever take our place as father.

I have personally benefited tremendously from reading this book, and I continue to reread it each month in an effort to keep fresh in my mind the things that are most important in life. Someone has said that the good things in life are often the mortal enemy of the best things in life. This book is a constant reminder of the difference between the two.

Rob Parsons provides incredible insight into the busy life of fathers. His thought provoking suggestions as well as his pointers for separating work from home life have made a tremendous impact on my relationship with my kids. They're only small once, so take the time to listen, learn and be a part of their daily lives. Don't let the lyrics to Chapin's "Cats in the Cradle" ring true in your life!

My wife and I learned so much from this short book, that we now give this book as a gift to our friends, and especially new parents. It really made us focus on what is most important in our lives ..... our children. No one ever said on their death bed, "I wish I would have spent one more day at the offce." It is a short book ... read it. Your kids will thank you.

Mr. Parsons provides an extremely refreshing reminder of what it takes to be a Father. The book is geared to help Father's overcome "busy-ness", how to avoid the future regret often associated with preoccupation and provides wonderful direction in meeting the needs of children.