BOOK RELEASE

Los Angeles, CA — Nonprofit All Parents Welcome (APW), which focuses on providing needed resources to better support and improve the mental health of parents — regardless how they arrived at parenthood —— launches a unique resource this week centering around a question too-often ignored in the parenting space: How can anyone be expected to be of support to their family when they themselves are struggling?

With the launch of their new publishing imprint, APW aims to address that question with a refreshingly honest debut release created specifically for first-time fathers.

Why First-time Fathers?

A recent study from All Parents Welcome partner, Nested, found that 98% of non-birthing caregivers were never screened for their mental health. And as a majority of non-birthing parents identify as dads, that’s a lot of struggling partners quietly suffering

The result? Many moms find themselves burdened with carrying even more of the emotional and invisible load.

This new dad handbook aims to change that.

And while the title may make you smile, the mission is serious.

The DILF (Dad I’d Like To… Friend) Handbook: A New Dad’s Guide to Overcoming the Most Common Myths of Parenthood is a mental health resource designed to help new dads become emotionally present, confident co-parents, and more active participants in the daily work of family life.

Drawing on research, expert interviews, and proven strategies, this empowering parenting resource gives new dads the emotional support and real-life tools they often don’t receive — all while shattering the most dangerous myths of fatherhood.

Despite its playful name, the book tackles big issues:

• The dated mentality that men have no interest in being actively-engaged parents
• The myth that paternity leave is a complete waste of time
• The pressure dads feel to instantly “bond” with their baby
• The fear that there’s no room to make mistakes
• The myth that fathers should always be the steady rock and do not need any support for themselves

Built From Real Experience:

All Parents Welcome Founder and Author Kevin Seldon knows firsthand how isolating early fatherhood can feel. After struggling to find meaningful support himself, he launched The DILF (Dad I’d Like To… Friend) Podcast, which quickly climbed Apple’s parenting charts worldwide, reaching #6 in the U.S. as a favorite of both dads and moms.

But as he connected with fathers across the globe, a clear pattern emerged: many new dads were struggling — both in their relationships and in their new role as a parent — quietly battling anxiety, disconnection, and the pressure to pretend everything was “fine.”

“In those early months, I felt like I was supposed to be the rock — steady, unfazed, while being the support system for everyone around me,” Seldon shares. “But I wasn’t okay. And neither were many of the dads I met. And if the goal is building emotionally healthy homes as role models for our children, we have to start by better supporting the emotional health of their parents… dads included.”

In keeping with the nonprofit’s mission, sales from every purchase will benefit the Dads Supporting Dads Fund, helping to create additional resources to better support fathers, so they can better support their partners, their children, and themselves.

The DILF (Dad I’d Like To… Friend) Handbook will be available January 26, 2026 in print and e-book formats through major retailers and online platforms. It is published through Dads Supporting Dads, an arm of All Parents Welcome.

About ALL PARENTS WELCOME:

All Parents Welcome (APW) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reshaping the parenting experience by creating a conversation around parenthood that truly supports all parents — no matter how they arrived at their parenting journey. From adoption and surrogacy to single parenthood, blended families, LGBTQ+ parents, and non-birthing partners, APW is committed to advancing care equity and ensuring every parent feels seen, supported, and celebrated. The organization takes a three-pronged approach to building parenting verticals, focusing on support systems, resource hubs, and original content. Through education, research, and community-building, APW is working to build a more inclusive, compassionate, and empowering future for parents everywhere.