Here's the occasional question from a DW for the sake of research.

I am in the process of updating a very old welcoming package for our parents of multiples club. I noticed there wasn't any material in the package that was geared toward the Dads. I would like to add an informational page describing where Dad's can go for info. Do you have any resources that helped you? What are some things you would have appreciated in a package like that when you were starting out? Are there any books that you would recommend? No reasonable topic is off limits.. finances, baby names, family cars, support from fellow Dads, intimate relations, dealing with hormonal women... whatever...

Our club does a Mentoring Mom thing where they connect an experienced Mom with the new members. Would Dad's be interested in having a mentor? Would it work if we did "mentoring couples" instead of "Mentor Mom's"?

Just so you know.. I don't even lurk here, I have 3 toddlers... who has time to lurk? But I just scanned through one of your posts to see if my post would be welcome. I see that some Dad's don't like it, but if I ask on the main forum I don't expect results. I really like the suggestion for an "ask the Dad's" forum. That would be the appropriate place for this entry. Here it comes... So Sorry if I overstepped my bounds.. (at least it wasn't at the beginning.)

I would appreciate any help you can provide. Our club really wants to help the Dad's benefit from the organization too.

Thank you very much.

Sheila
Blessed with 3 beautiful girls
Hannah, Jennifer, and Heather
7/18/03 32w3d
and the worlds greatest husband Brian

photos.yahoo.com/pogsontrips

Trying hard to not sound too negative, but there's not much to include in your packet that would help very many fathers.

There's an online group, www.father2father.org, but there are only a handfull of fathers who still actively participate. There's just not a whole lot of free time for going online after everything else is done.

There are numerous online resources as part of the national fathering initiative. But be careful, many revert into a child support rant. I wouldn't send anyone to those sites.

This forum here on TC is a ghost town. It probably averages a post or two a month at best. No fathers have even inquired about geting support here in quite a while and I've seen no effort by TC to change this.

There's a great program for expecting dads called "boot camp for new dads". I think their website is www.newdads.org (or something like that). While not geared towards HOM's, it's a good start for inexperienced dads to be.

Personally, I wouldn't want to be setup with a mentoring couple, sounds worse than asking for directions.

Maybe a list of available resources could be included in the packet. Just looking at the number of mothers on this site compared to the number of fathers, I wouldn't expect much participation....


Jonathan
Dad to Ally(20), Dan(18),
and Aidan, Zachary, and Jillian (9-01)

Jonathan
Dad to Ally(25), Dan(23),
and Aidan, Zachary, and Jillian (8)

Thanks J.,

I don't expect a lot of participation, but as a club; we would like to make it more inviting for Dad to get involved. I'll use a couple of the resources you mentioned, and keep checking in to see if there is any more input.

Thank you for your input, and for beeing such an involved Dad.

Sheila
Blessed with 3 beautiful girls
Hannah, Jennifer, and Heather
7/18/03 32w3d
and the worlds greatest husband Brian

photos.yahoo.com/pogsontrips

All of this honesty is comical to say the least. I for one dont like asking for directions nor help form others, however i just graduated from college (gives you a hint at my age) and am looking for all added information i can get. I am mostly intrested in efficiency of things such as changing three diapers at once and feeding, exc...Any trick or previously learned suggestions are greatly appreciated.

But if no one posts, how is there going to be any information to research?

I don't think I'd be interested in a mentor, as has been said, asking is not my forte. Research is.
I thought I say a FAQ here and was besides myself with joy! Then I found it was completely empty. Bummer.

Anyway, I'd like to help put together info for Dads, but I myself will be a new dad...with triplets! All my research will be theory with no practice. I don't know if I'll have time to poast once they come...a problem many I'm sure are faced with. Now, if TC would sponser a research assistant, or something along those lines, we'd get somewhere.