What If Dad Read the Book First? A Gentle Challenge to Outdated Beliefs

I’m truly delighted and deeply grateful for the response to my book "What is My Child Telling Me, That I’m Not Getting…..Yet?"

The stories, reflections, and heartfelt messages that have poured in—mostly from mums—have been nothing short of moving. So many have told me how the book opened their eyes, not only to their child’s cues but to their own birth story and early childhood. It’s been humbling and affirming.

But here’s something interesting—and just a bit cheeky!

A number of dads have proudly told me they ordered the book… and then gave it straight to their wives to read.

Now, hold on a minute. What’s that about?

It brings up something I feel we need to gently but firmly talk about: the unwritten rule that “mum knows best” when it comes to babies and childhood. Says who?

Let me say this with love and a little nudge: Dads, you matter just as much. And understanding your child’s earliest experiences—those “baby body language” cues that tell the story of life in the womb, birth, and the critical early years—can transform not only your connection with your baby but also with yourself.

We were all born. We all carry a story from that time, imprinted into our nervous system—how we were conceived, carried, birthed, and received into the world. And for many men, the birth of their own child stirs up something deep. It’s not lack of interest. It’s that no one prepared them emotionally.

While mums undergo a 40-week emotional, hormonal, and physical transformation, many dads are swept up in logistics. They might attend the classes, but they don’t always expect the emotional “download” that hits when labour begins, or when they see their child born.

That moment can awaken something primal—memories and imprints from their own start in life.

This is exactly what my book is about. It’s a guide, yes. But more than that, it’s an invitation to reflect, heal, and connect on a soul-deep level—with your child and with your own origin story.

So if you’re a mum and your partner hands you my book? Kindly hand it back and say, “You read it first. Let’s talk about it together.”

It could be the beginning of a profound shift—not just in how you parent, but in how you love, support, and truly see each other on this shared journey.

With love and gratitude,
Anne Matthews
Baby Body Language Expert & Parent Coach
🌐www.wholesomelyconnected.com