Being a Dad Is Weird

Being a dad is weird... but also great.

Ben Falcone has had some strange moments in his journey as a father of two daughters. He's been in the kitchen making gluten-free pancakes while overhearing his daughters discussing the mysteries of God. He has felt the guilt of not having candy for the leprechaun trap made by his kindergartner, or even knowing that there was such a thing as a leprechaun trap, or that St. Patrick's Day was a holiday that required candy, or celebrating for that matter. He has felt the boil of anger as he struggled to catch even the tiniest glimpse of his child during a school performance through a sea of iPhones. Through these, and all the other strange and often infuriating moments of parenthood, Ben's role model has been his own father. Known for his long and involved stories, his competitive nature on the basketball court, a propensity for funny hats, and a somewhat casual approach to employment, Steve Falcone was a dad like no other.

Ben learned everything about being a man, a husband, and a father from his own dad. So what if his dad drove the ugliest, biggest-piece-of-junk car in the neighborhood with pride, much to Ben's chagrin? So what if he always ate the ears off of the chocolate bunny Ben got for Easter? So what if he took Ben on the road trip vacation from hell, eventually landing on godforsaken Ocracoke Island, known for bird-watching and natural beaches, and where everything closes at 7:00 p.m.? So what if he had one mimosa too many before the big soccer game, and cheered Ben and his teammates on with some rather colorful language? Steve Falcone taught Ben that being a dad is all about showing up in the most important moments, and always making sure your kids know that you love and support them?even when your kids do really dumb, disappointing, or just plain weird stuff.

In this charming and hilarious collection, Ben Falcone offers intimate and relatable stories about his adventures as a parent to his two daughters with wife Melissa McCarthy, but also his own childhood, and all that is wonderful and weird about life in the trenches as a parent.