Becoming a father is an exciting time, yet can create anxiety and a lot of questions.

• What is a father?
• What is an 'involved' father?
• How can I participate equally with my partner in caring for my child?
• Where can I go with my child?
• What can I do with my baby?
• Am I eligible for parental leave?
• How can I support my partner in her role as a mother?
• What tips are there for single parents?

These are just a few of the questions that the following resources and links can help you answer.

The following books and videos are available for loan from the Peterborough County-City Health Unit:

Books
Working Fathers, New Strategies for Balancing Work and Family.  This hands-on guide - offers practical solutions that will benefit both parents and businesses.

Videos
• "Dads...Under Construction" video series
•  The Dad Classes:  Dr. Neil Campbell's unique "Dad Classes" for expectant fathers show the hopes and fears of dads to be.
•  Now I'm A Dad:  Men who have "graduated" to fatherhood, men's reactions to their babies, feelings about being a father, adapting to the role of father.
•  Dad in the Delivery Room:  How our health care system needs to improve the way it supports new fathers, the challenges of involving dads after the delivery room experience.
•  The Masculine Mystique:  Images of men in society and how these images prevent men from participating wholly in fatherhood.
•  Taking Our Measure as Dads:  As children grow older, their father's relationship with them changes; men with older children; the changing relationship as the child becomes a young adult.
•  When Dad Becomes Grandpa:  Grandfathering as a "second chance" for fathering, the role of older men, how our society can recover the wisdom of the elders.

Books and videos are available for loan from the Peterborough Family Resource Centre (www.accel.net/acs/pfrc).

Websites
•  BabyCenter: The Dad Zone
www.babycenter.com/dads/
This site offers extensive consumer literature for new or expectant fathers.

•  Bootcamp for New Dads
www.newdads.com/
Extensive training, tips, and advice for new or expectant dads presented by new and "veteran" fathers.

•  Dads and Daughters 
www.dadsanddaughters.org/
A non-profit, membership organization for fathers with daughters.

•  Father to Father
www.cyfc.umn.edu/family/research/index.html
This site offers links to electronic documents related to fathering, and a bibliography of fathering print resources.
http://www.cyfc.umn.edu/family/research/index.html

•  National Center for Fathering
www.fathers.com
This site offers practical tips, an online bookstore and services for connecting fathers with other fathers, as well as recent research findings on fatherhood.

•  National Fathers Network: Support for Fathers and Families of Children with Special Needs
www.fathersnetwork.org/
A non-profit organization devoted to supporting and offering resources for fathers of children with special needs, their families, and their service providers.  Their site archives a newsletter for fathers, contains articles by dads, and lists additional resources.

• Slowlane.com: The Online Resource for Stay At Home Dads
www.slowlane.com/
This site offers articles, medica clips, suggested books, and other resources for fathers who stay at home.  It also highlights services to connect fathers with other stay at home dads in their local communities.

•  Maternity, parental and sickness benefits:  http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/ei/types/special.shtml

Groups for Fathers:
•  Men's Talking Circle - Lovesick Lake Native Women's Association (for aboriginals or non-aboriginals)  (705)657-0456
•  Nobody's Perfect - Call the Nobody's Perfect Coordinator at 743-1000 for more information.