It’s no secret that women have an abundance of books and other resources to turn to for tips and advice about pregnancy, having a baby, raising kids, trouble with their teen, and all their other mom-related questions.

But what about fathers? The idea that fatherhood transforms men isn’t that surprising. In fact, most dads would agree that having children influences every single aspect of their lives including where they live, their jobs, who their friends are, their health, where they go on vacation, and their marriages and relationships.

Unfortunately, as a father (whether you’re expecting, married, widowed, divorced, or any other kind of dad) you’ve been left on your own to navigate the joys and challenges of your unique journey—a journey that never ends. And if you want to learn more about what to expect and how your life is going to change as your child grows, you won’t find many books that speak specifically to a father’s experience.

Fathers today play a greater role with their families and children than ever before. However, military dads and dads-to-be are often separated from their families for extended periods of time. Unfortunately, there are very few resources for military (and deployed civilian) fathers, who are looking for guidance on how to be in close touch with their families back home.

THE MILITARY FATHER, written by the country's leading authority on fatherhood, will fill that gap, providing deployed dads with everything they need to know to stay (or become) involved with and connected to their family regardless of the distance that separates them.

Part I of this essential sourcebook covers pre-deployment and explores the profound effect a dad's absence will have on his spouse, his children, and himself. It also provides extensive pre-deployment checklists and detailed tips aimed at preparing the dad and his family for separation and long-distance communication.

Part II, During Deployment, explains how to stay involved and connected when you're far away, and includes specific strategies and activities designed to help dads and their family remain close across time and distance.

Part III, Coming Home, offers advice on post-deployment times from preparing to come home and surmounting the challenges of returning to military or civilian life. In addition, the book includes a chapter on how dads can support a spouse when she's the one being deployed, and a comprehensive listing of resources available to soldiers and their families.

Flavored with the author's trademark wit, warmth, and intelligence, this guide combines a wealth of knowledge from experts, scientific studies, and interviews with scores of military fathers and their families.