Depending on which source you read, it’s estimated that the number of stay-at-home dads (SAHD) ranges anywhere from 140,000 (Census Bureau) to 2 million men (CBS News). Other statistics claim that of the nation’s 11.3 million preschoolers whose mothers are employed, 25% are regularly cared for by their father during their mother’s working hours (Census Bureau). These are just a few of the figures cited as indicators that more and more dads are becoming the family’s primary care giver. The trend has, as of late, received increased attention given its direct correlation to the poor economy. Many previously employed fathers, such as myself, suddenly found themselves thrust into an unfamiliar role that a number of other fathers had already been preforming well before Wall Street took a dive. One such dad is Joe Schatz, a stay-at-home vet and author of the book, “Daddy, where’s your vagina?“:What I Learned as a Stay-At-Home Dad. – From the review by Ron Mattocks

Joe Schatz, author of the new book Daddy, where’s your vagina? is set to appear on The Tyra Show. Schatz and his wife will talk about their relationship, his role as a stay-at-home dad a little about his book with a funny title. Schatz’s appearance on the Tyra show interview marks the beginning of his book tour. I met Joe on twitter and was fortunate enough to receive an advance galley of his book. I loved not only his down-to-earth parenting tips  but also his honest appraisal about being a stay-at-home dad.

Schatz, a stay-at-home dad for over nine years,told me he recently published his book in order to fill a void he had found from personal experience. And I loved how writing it came to be: “For my first Father’s Day as a full-time dad,” Joe told me, “my wife bought me a book about Emperor penguins. Apparently, Emperor penguin dads are the animal kingdom’s version of the stay-at-home dad. I was excited that my wife found such a novel book for me, but I quickly realized that I had little in common with my feathered comrades in the parenting department. I pretty much knew the second I saw a bird on the cover of my parenting book that there was void in the marketplace.”

Isn’t that the truth?

Daddy, where’s your vagina? isn’t your typical dad/stay-at-home dad book. While the book does contain humor, it isn’t the worn out I’m-a-dumb-dad-laugh-at-me material. Yes, the book does have lots of practical tips, but it isn’t a manual. Rather the book is about empowering dads who find themselves in the increasingly more common role of a caregiver. The book is a collage of parenting and relationship advice given from first hand experiences and delivered in an entertaining, unassuming fashion. Humbly the book is wonderful. It’s not just a book that pertains to men, but women too and may actually be equally engaging and useful to stay-at-home moms.

Recently, I had an opportunity to ask Schatz a couple questions about the book and about his experiences as a stay-at-home dad. Here is what he said:

“What was it like when you first became a stay-at-home dad over nine years ago?”

“It was tough. I had to find my way through a lot of challenges. Being a caregiver, dealing with isolation, getting over my ego all took time. Being a full-time parent is extremely difficult.”

“Has your wife been supportive during your time at home?”

“My wife has been very supportive. We are best friends, and she has always made sure to ask me how I felt about all our major decisions. We are a team. The one constant in my life has always been my wife and that has made the world of difference.”

“I remember writing books when my kids were little. It wasn’t easy. You wrote a book while being a stay-at-home dad—how did you manage that?”

“It wasn’t easy. I actually started writing the book three years ago and really took on the project in earnest this past spring and summer. I had to work a lot of late nights and during one of our family vacations I spent a few of the beach days working. There was some sacrifice for sure, but looking back it was totally worth it.”

“Why ‘Daddy, where’s your vagina?’”

“It’s actually something my youngest daughter asked me when she was two. I think the title is fitting. It epitomizes the awkwardness that goes along with the position of being a stay-at-home dad, that and it makes people want to pick up the book.”

“What is the most important thing you’ve learned being a stay-at-home dad?”

“I look at women completely differently now. I have always seen men and women as equals, but being a full-time dad to three daughters really made me appreciate a lot of what women deal with. From the stay-at-home moms I have met to my wife at work to my own daughters, I really became aware that there are a lot of inequities still evident in today’s society. I think my time at home and the solid example my wife sets, has helped show our daughters that gender doesn’t limit someone into a specific role. That’s one of the big benefits of being a stay-at-home dad, we break down stereotypes.”

Since the beginning of the economic downturn, nearly 80% of the jobs lost have belonged to men. With this forced cultural shift an empowering book for dads is just what the doctor ordered. Daddy, where’s your vagina? delivers that message of empowerment in a witty, entertaining read. The book is already available through all online retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, so get your copy now to find out what all the buzz is about.

Kudos, Joe! All the best in your book tour – and keep us posted as about your Tyra show appearance. Thanks for writing such a great hands-on, amusing  manual. You’ve packed this with humor, tips and insights covering everything about raising kids-from changing diapers, giving baths, teaching their first words, tying their shoelaces, navigating playgroups-but also teaching your kids about the greatest lesson there is: L.I.F.E!

For more about Joe and this book, log on to www.xlibris.com.