Update: Giveaway: Don't Just Stand There

Update:  The winners are: Kelsa, Maya, and Peg.

Buy yours and save: Enter promo code Lourdes to receive 30% off and free shipping on your entire order at chroniclebooks.com.  Offer expires November 30.

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Being a great labor partner is the prelude to being a great dad—and what hopeful father doesn’t want to ace his first assignment? Don’t Just Stand There is the ultimate resource for dads-to-be. Written by a husband and wife team, this guidebook outlines everything an expectant father needs to know to navigate the big day—from what questions to ask the doctor to how to make the delivery room feel like home.

Dads get clear direction on what to bring, how to calm and soothe, what to say and, more important, what to definitely not say. A chapter on the stages of labor makes it easy to track what’s happening when, while blank lists provide space for mom to fill in her personal preferences ahead of time. With witty illustrations and confidence-inspiring advice throughout, Don’t Just Stand There is an essential for the expecting.

Exclusively for CBB Readers: Enter promo code Lourdes to receive 30% off and free shipping on your entire order at chroniclebooks.com.  Offer expires November 30.

Enter to win one of three copies of Don’t Just Stand There byanswering this question:  What are your tips to getting your guy tohelp out around the house? (The giveaway closes Monday, October 18th at9 am EST.)

Comments

well being pregggo right now ( and SOOOO needing this book!!) I have to say that NOT doing much has been my strategy ( and then tends to happen by magic!)
OR I invite my mum over and that seeems to motivate him to tidy up (cant have mum thikning we live like THIS!!!)
LOL

- ekaterina on October 17th, 2007

As newly weds, we’re still in the honeymoon state where we want to impress each other with our “skills”. Every time I comment on what a great job he’s done or doing, it makes him want to do more! He’s such a great Hubby! And as we are trying to get pregnant, this book will sooo come in handy!

- Kelsa on October 17th, 2007

We have been married for 3 years and the biggest thing that has helped me is just to ask! Don’t nag, don’t yell, don’t ignore it and just hope the cleaning fairy comes, just ask! Tell him specific tasks – instead of just “clean the kitchen”, try “can you empty the dishwasher and reload it, and wipe the countertops?”

Also, it also works to divide and conquer. When we are doing major housecleaning, we split the rooms up. Then he feels like you are doing something too, and he is not the only one that has to clean!

Finally – find out which chore your spouse hates the most and tell him which one you hate, then trade! My husband does the dishes for me, and I do laundry for him. It’s a trade-off and a partnership!

- Jenn on October 17th, 2007

I have tired nagging, didn’t work. Neither did begging.
You need to be specific and let him know how helping YOU will ultimately help HIM.
Like Jenn, I told my husband the things that I really loathe doing and once he started helping me there, I was sure to tell him how much it meant to me that he pitched in and how grateful I was to be rid of said chores.
Positive affirmations go a LONG way with your man.

- Mamakraft on October 17th, 2007

My husband and I have agreed that in most cases, I’ll give him until the end of the day to get something done. That eliminates a lot of my nagging, and makes him happier because he doesn’t feel that he has to drop what he’s doing to do whatever I’m asking.

- Sara on October 17th, 2007

We split things up too, so that way when we are each done with one room we see that a lot of progress has been made. Also we both can be bribed and bartered with!

- shannon on October 17th, 2007

I’m actually really lucky. My husband offers to help out with chores all the time, and does them without being asked. Before we got married we talked and figured out what chores each of us enjoy and which we hate and kind of split things up that way. So, I do laundry and clean the bathroom and mows the lawn and does dishes.

- Maya on October 17th, 2007

If I want help around the house, I just ask! It sounds simple, but it took me awhile to learn that my husband just doesn’t notice when things need done on his own. I have to ask for help doing something specific. When I do, he is more than happy to help out!

- Sarah W. on October 17th, 2007

I guess I’m lucky. My husband is pretty good about helping around the house. When I need him to do something, I just specifically ask. Thats what we learned in pre-marital counseling and it seems to help. It seems like this is the big thing everyone else is saying as well.

- Kimberly on October 17th, 2007

No tricks, if I need help I will just ask. If I feel like he is not pulling his weight, I’ll tell him. I don’t think I would have married someone who I needed to trick into doing things!

- Anjelica on October 17th, 2007

I help him come up with the idea of having a get together at our house. Nothing sets him in motion like the idea of having guests. The best part is that he thinks the party is all HIS idea. shhhh….don’t tell!

- Nicole on October 17th, 2007

I used to ask nicely – that didn’t work. Then we tried alternating weeks – that didn’t work. Nagging didn’t work. I think you have to find what suits your personalities. Finally, I decided to just clean what I dirtied. So, I only washed my clothes, I dusted and swept my side of the room, I cooked only for myself and I only washed my own dishes. It took a week or so for him to realize it. But it worked like a charm.

- Peg on October 18th, 2007

Before being pregnant, it took a lot of asking for him to help out with chores that aren’t usually his. And it’s true that asking is the only way to go about it, and then already have a reason to his inevitable, “Why?”. And the question has to be asked calmly, and not in a frazzled state.

But now, during the pregnancy, he’s been so much more willing to help out! But I’ve noticed that he volunteers to help more when I DON’T complain about my back, being tired, etc, versus the days when I do.

- emily on October 18th, 2007

My husband and I work together. Most of the other women in the office have husbands who don’t do much or nothing at all. I make sure to BRAG about all that he helps me with. Then, they make comments to him about how awesome he is, which makes him want to help more!

- Katie on October 18th, 2007