The Passions of Fatherhood - Hardcover
"Fatherhood is one of the least understood and most mysterious relationships in our lives....We fathers hardly have words for describing the intimate dilemmas of fatherhood, and even when we do find words, many of us choose to keep our passions private."
--Sam Osherson, from the preface
In this superb new book, psychologist and writer Samuel Osherson explores the most challenging and rewarding relationship in a man's life: fatherhood. The Passions of Fatherhood illuminates the joy and anger, excitement and frustration, discovery and bewilderment that fathers experience moment by moment as they struggle to raise their children in today's world. Osherson looks at fathering from the inside, using his own family life as a springboard into universal experience.
As Osherson explains, fatherhood is not simply a role; it's an evolving, highly dynamic relationship that continuously and powerfully transforms men as their children grow up. Through revealing personal anecdotes and interviews with scores of other fathers, Osherson dramatizes the central dilemmas that all fathers face today. How does a father help his son find confidence and strength without pushing him too hard? When a father falls head over heels in love with his little girl, how can he also maintain clear and healthy boundaries? How can men keep the passions of fatherhood from stifling the sexual and emotional passions of marriage? How can men reconcile their desire to be present in their families with their need to get away?
Since being a father inevitably reminds us of our childhoods, Osherson also probes the father's relationship with his own parents--his effort to do things differently from his own dad while at the same time drawing on his male inheritance. In addition, there are sensitive and thoughtful chapters devoted to the father's role in his children's spiritual and moral education, how fathers can deal with their children's natural curiosity about sex, and the special needs of divorced fathers.
Infused with a deep appreciation of the strengths of fathers and sympathetic forgiveness for their weaknesses, The Passions of Fatherhood is ultimately about how fathers find their true place in the family and in the hearts and minds of their children. This insightful, compassionate, sometimes humorous, and often profoundly moving book will inspire men who experience the passions of fatherhood--or are looking forward to doing so.
"A work of wisdom and compassion, a reminder of the joyous dance of parent and child--its complex steps, its erratic rhythms, its potential for harmony and resonance. A book to keep close by in times of trial and triumph."
--Michael Dorris
--Sam Osherson, from the preface
In this superb new book, psychologist and writer Samuel Osherson explores the most challenging and rewarding relationship in a man's life: fatherhood. The Passions of Fatherhood illuminates the joy and anger, excitement and frustration, discovery and bewilderment that fathers experience moment by moment as they struggle to raise their children in today's world. Osherson looks at fathering from the inside, using his own family life as a springboard into universal experience.
As Osherson explains, fatherhood is not simply a role; it's an evolving, highly dynamic relationship that continuously and powerfully transforms men as their children grow up. Through revealing personal anecdotes and interviews with scores of other fathers, Osherson dramatizes the central dilemmas that all fathers face today. How does a father help his son find confidence and strength without pushing him too hard? When a father falls head over heels in love with his little girl, how can he also maintain clear and healthy boundaries? How can men keep the passions of fatherhood from stifling the sexual and emotional passions of marriage? How can men reconcile their desire to be present in their families with their need to get away?
Since being a father inevitably reminds us of our childhoods, Osherson also probes the father's relationship with his own parents--his effort to do things differently from his own dad while at the same time drawing on his male inheritance. In addition, there are sensitive and thoughtful chapters devoted to the father's role in his children's spiritual and moral education, how fathers can deal with their children's natural curiosity about sex, and the special needs of divorced fathers.
Infused with a deep appreciation of the strengths of fathers and sympathetic forgiveness for their weaknesses, The Passions of Fatherhood is ultimately about how fathers find their true place in the family and in the hearts and minds of their children. This insightful, compassionate, sometimes humorous, and often profoundly moving book will inspire men who experience the passions of fatherhood--or are looking forward to doing so.
"A work of wisdom and compassion, a reminder of the joyous dance of parent and child--its complex steps, its erratic rhythms, its potential for harmony and resonance. A book to keep close by in times of trial and triumph."
--Michael Dorris
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author:
Samuel Osherson, Ph.D., is a research psychologist at the Harvard University Health Services.
From Booklist:
Osherson is a psychologist, psychotherapist, and, obviously, one terrific dad. His latest book is a sensitive, beautifully written work in which he provides support for any man who feels insecure about his fathering skills. Drawing upon personal experiences with his own two children as well as interviews with other fathers, Osherson offers empathy and advice to men coping with life's most challenging, mysterious relationship. He suggests that men must often return to their own childhoods and draw their own fathers into themselves in order to best understand fatherhood. Osherson's voice is a soothing tonic as he probes such intricacies as teaching sons to be tough as well as vulnerable, seeking affirmation from daughters, maintaining a wife as both mother and lover, accepting the need for private time, and learning to let children grow up and go away. He credits children with unbelievable courage and optimism and proffers comfort for dads who fear being forgotten, fear failing their children. Osherson's ultimate advice is simple. Be there for your children, know them, give them time, a word, a pat on the back. Fatherhood is in the details. Patricia Hassler
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherFawcett
- Publication date1995
- ISBN 10 0449907783
- ISBN 13 9780449907788
- BindingHardcover
- Edition number1
- Number of pages288
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