'Girl dad' gives fatherly advice

HURON — A father to four, including three daughters, Spencer Patterson not only wants to steer his children on the right path in life but others as well. To do so, he recruited the help of additional dads, collectively revealing what he calls the "heartwarming and gut-wrenching truths about being a girl dad." In partnership with other father authors, known as an anthology, Patterson authored his first book, "A Girl Dad & A Few Wise Men," which recently published. It's intended for any type of father: first-timers, single dads, ones with spouses and others. "Becoming a father is easy, but choosing to be the father a child needs is incredibly difficult," the book's introduction states. "Some are blessed with proper role models, but the reality is many grow up without a father to guide them on the road of life." It's available on Amazon. People can find the book by searching for the title on amazon.com. Covers are specific to all of the different dads contributing, so search for "Spencer Patterson" as well when browsing. "My book is an anthology featuring different fathers, including myself, sharing their personal stories of raising their daughters," said Patterson, who's married to his wife, Amber. Patterson and other girl dad authors, 15 in total, address many topics, including: • "What does it feel like to have a daughter?" • "How does it feel to be a dad?" • "How are you doing as a girl dad?" "In my contribution to the anthology, I talked about the joys and challenges of being a girl dad to my three daughters: ages 4, 11 and 15," he said. "From sports to boys to, 'Can I do your makeup daddy?' I get to experience the full range of parenting dynamics." Patterson, a 2007 Sandusky High School graduate, also has an 8-year-old son, who he enjoys "wrestling with," noting it's "a nice break." In his personal submission, Patterson also touches upon on "how being raised by a single mother helped shape me into the dad I am today and how those experiences have prepared me to face some of the challenges of fatherhood." An introduction to writing Patterson first gained inspiration to write for an anthology during last year's Black Expo event in Sandusky. The daylong gathering "celebrated Black excellence, fostered community connections and promoted meaningful dialogue on a variety of crucial topics," according to an event statement. He credits meeting TJ and Tyra James for giving him the motivation to push his boundaries and try something new. "At first, I wasn't sure if it was for me. I just felt too busy and didn't think it was something I'd be good at," Patterson said about the book. He believed juggling this responsibility with others — being a dad, a husband along with an entrepreneur who manages several entities and investments with Amber — would be too time-consuming. "After some reflection, I realized the very reasons I thought I couldn't do it were exactly why I should," Patterson said about his book. "It was an opportunity I knew I couldn't pass up, and I'm glad I jumped on it." Patterson noted the entire process — writing, editing, going through photoshoots with 1826 Photographic and meetings upon meetings — "has been a lot of work." "But the end result has exceeded my expectations," he said. The book's foreword, written by Tyra, gives some insight into what a reader can expect. "'A Girl Dad & A Few Wise Men' is not just a collection of stories but a treasure trove of practical advice for fathers at any stage of their journey," Tyra wrote. "It will prompt you to pause, reflect and cherish the unique bond between a daughter and her dad." Patterson hopes people give his writing a chance. "My family and all these responsibilities were exactly why I chose to say 'yes' to this opportunity," Patterson said. "I plan to do a book signing event at some point in the near future. I am working on securing a date and venue."