Where's Daddy?: The Mythologies Behind Custody-Access-Support [Hardcover]

K C (Author), K (Author), K. C. Wilson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2000

If you think you're a father, you're in for a shock should your wife divorce you.

At the same time, many women wish their ex-husband would be more involved with the children. Why are they not and what can you do about it? What drives men?

Where's Daddy? is the only book that answers "Why?" Why are our divorce practices so far removed from human nature and a child's needs? It shows what you are really up against as a parent, what has been driving our practices, and what can and should so easily replace them. The problem goes well beyond Victorian gender roles. It has as much or more to do with notions of family, authority and equality.

All the "How-To" books on divorce won't mean much until you know what you are really dealing with, and what to strive for.

Richard McCall, PhD, Psychologist, Zen Master -- "Where's Daddy? cuts right to the heart of one of the most pivotal and controversial issues in today's society. Children unquestionably need the influence of both parents in their lives to be balanced. Hopefully, Where's Daddy? will finally open eyes to many of the unfair biases that exist in our legal systems today. As a divorced father, having dealt with these issues personally, I applaud K.C.'s insightful treatment of this life-shaping issue."

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

For me, the pivotal chapter is the one on equality. For, despite our rhetoric, the concept confuses us greatly.

If Where's Daddy? is about anything, it is true social equality. My fondest hope is that this comes to be seen as its principle contribution.

From the Back Cover

Are you fed up with our inhumane divorce practices?

When 50 percent of marriages end in divorce and 43 percent of children are left with one parent, everyone is affected: uncles, aunts, grandparents, and friends, but mostly, the children. The devastation from our divorce practices is our most public secret scandal. Everyone whispers it, the whispers never acknowledged. It seems that as long as a villain can be created, society is content.

After three decades of research universally pointing to more productive options, why does Custody-Access-Support remain? Why are the facts ignored? Why do so many still insist it is natural or obvious?

Where's Daddy? examines our divorce customs in the context of our culture as a whole. In this light, the distortions become clear, as do the answers, which are much closer at hand than most think.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Harbinger Press (April 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967473659
• ISBN-13: 978-0967473659
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,079,051 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for anyone dealing with children of divorce., July 4, 2000

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Where's Daddy?: The Mythologies Behind Custody-Access-Support (Hardcover)

Where's Daddy?: The Mythologies Behind Custody-Access-Support examines American divorce customs in the context of the culture as a whole while addressing such common misconceptions as: Only women have children, there must be only one ultimate authority for all things; marriage is to be worshiped more than family; sameness is to be preferred to equality. Of particular note is the observation that social movements, however noble their origins and intended purposes, inevitably become new forms of tyranny, with feminism being merely the latest example of this phenomenon. Where's Daddy? is critically essential reading for all parents contemplating or involved in a divorce, counselors and social workers dealing with the children of divorced parents, judicial and policy making authorities crafting and adjudicating divorce and child custody proceedings.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Reader From San Diego, CA, July 4, 2000

By 

Ken Larkin (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Where's Daddy?: The Mythologies Behind Custody-Access-Support (Hardcover)

K.C. has articulated my feelings of frustration and helplessness with the child custody/access/support process, but more importantly, has given me hope that there are still people of sanity and clarity out there.

As a twice divorced father of four, I believe "Where's Daddy?" should be required reading for everyone with children who are contemplating or involved in a divorce (if you really care about your children).

This book simply makes sense.

5.0 out of 5 stars Current research on child custody issues, October 20, 2002

By 

Harold McFarland (Florida) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Where's Daddy?: The Mythologies Behind Custody-Access-Support (Hardcover)

"Where's Daddy" looks at the current situation in child custody, access, and support. An extensive exposition, it examines the historical factors that brought us to where we are now as well as the myths and assumptions that are part of that history. The author also examines current research in the area and how that information points to both the fallacy of many of our assumptions as well as a direction to a more positive approach for the child(ren).

The book is written in an easy to read style and the arguments are presented well. With such a complex subject and so much evidence to present, if the author had included it all in the text it would have rendered it a burdensome book to read. To overcome this the book is heavily referenced and annotated at the bottom of the pages with some pages having more area denoted to annotation than to the actual text itself. In addtion, there are several appendices in the back with verious reports and studies.

This is a book that should be read by all of those involved in the family practice area of law - judges, lawyers, psychologists, social workers. If you are really concerned about the children of a broken marriage and not driven by vendictiveness then this book deserves a solid read.