These are my 13 steps for expecting fathers I have a 2 year old girl and another girl due in October, so pray for me lol. I hope this little guide helps you guys out.
1. Free Time Is No More – In fact, free time is now called bed time. When experts say that parenthood is 24 hours a day they literally mean 24 hours a day!
2. Stay Focused During Delivery Day – Never ever ask a random hospital worker to accompany your water-leaking, laboring wife up the elevator while you take the stairs (unconquered fear of elevators). Yes, sadly, I tried it. But when my wife’s head spun around and she growled, “Get in the elevator” I suddenly overcame my fear and made the ride with her. Then my wife yelled and swore to skin me alive if I did one more stupid thing (were these goofy things the mistakes my mother had been referring to?). Things do calm down if your wife chooses to have an epidural (my wife did…Hallelujah).
3. Baby Care Class – I can’t believe I am a full time SEO for a travel company and I didn’t think to at least Google a video about baby care. Learning a few tricks and practicing a few diaper changes can make a world of difference.
4. Patience – Things from here on out will never go as planned. I once caught poop in my bare hands in a Baby’s R Us parking lot because I didn’t want it to get in the backseat of my car. Luckily, my wife did get that 10% off she was arguing about (first paragraph post).
5. Play Time – This one was easy for me. My son loves to play, and many times he wants me to play with him. But all the time he wants me to watch him. I am told that this odd phenomenon will never go away. “Hey Dad, watch this” and “Hey Dad, watch me.” Who knew??
6. Guys Night Out - They don’t completely go away, but they become very random, much shorter, and start at about 10:00 p.m.
7. Ask Your Pediatrician Questions – They actually like helping, and it’s nice to know the right answers.
8. Learn the Metric System – “Honey, can you give “Champ” 5 ml. of his antibiotic?” This one is not that hard but important.
9. Enjoy Your Last Full Nights Sleep – My son was breastfeed until he was about 10 months old. Like clock work, he woke up every 2 hours. My wife was a trooper. (Just on a side note we are going to supplement with formula the first few days so our next child will get on a better sleeping schedule)
10. Basic First Aid – Things happen. . .not often, but it will add a little assurance if something goes wrong.
11. Fashion Matters – Apparently it matters what your toddler is wearing. I think a diaper and Stride Rite shoes make a pretty good outfit. My wife thinks differently.
12. It Always Costs More – Regardless of how much you plan and budget, you will always spend a few more dollars. For my family this reality applies to buying formula, buying diapers, and even buying clothes.
13. Intimacy – You have to wait 6-8 weeks to be intimate with your wife once your child is born–maybe longer if there are complications. More importantly, you and your bff will never be truly alone again. But, it’s okay. You and she will make the adjustment, and you will never really want to go back to life “before baby.”
1. Free Time Is No More – In fact, free time is now called bed time. When experts say that parenthood is 24 hours a day they literally mean 24 hours a day!
2. Stay Focused During Delivery Day – Never ever ask a random hospital worker to accompany your water-leaking, laboring wife up the elevator while you take the stairs (unconquered fear of elevators). Yes, sadly, I tried it. But when my wife’s head spun around and she growled, “Get in the elevator” I suddenly overcame my fear and made the ride with her. Then my wife yelled and swore to skin me alive if I did one more stupid thing (were these goofy things the mistakes my mother had been referring to?). Things do calm down if your wife chooses to have an epidural (my wife did…Hallelujah).
3. Baby Care Class – I can’t believe I am a full time SEO for a travel company and I didn’t think to at least Google a video about baby care. Learning a few tricks and practicing a few diaper changes can make a world of difference.
4. Patience – Things from here on out will never go as planned. I once caught poop in my bare hands in a Baby’s R Us parking lot because I didn’t want it to get in the backseat of my car. Luckily, my wife did get that 10% off she was arguing about (first paragraph post).
5. Play Time – This one was easy for me. My son loves to play, and many times he wants me to play with him. But all the time he wants me to watch him. I am told that this odd phenomenon will never go away. “Hey Dad, watch this” and “Hey Dad, watch me.” Who knew??
6. Guys Night Out - They don’t completely go away, but they become very random, much shorter, and start at about 10:00 p.m.
7. Ask Your Pediatrician Questions – They actually like helping, and it’s nice to know the right answers.
8. Learn the Metric System – “Honey, can you give “Champ” 5 ml. of his antibiotic?” This one is not that hard but important.
9. Enjoy Your Last Full Nights Sleep – My son was breastfeed until he was about 10 months old. Like clock work, he woke up every 2 hours. My wife was a trooper. (Just on a side note we are going to supplement with formula the first few days so our next child will get on a better sleeping schedule)
10. Basic First Aid – Things happen. . .not often, but it will add a little assurance if something goes wrong.
11. Fashion Matters – Apparently it matters what your toddler is wearing. I think a diaper and Stride Rite shoes make a pretty good outfit. My wife thinks differently.
12. It Always Costs More – Regardless of how much you plan and budget, you will always spend a few more dollars. For my family this reality applies to buying formula, buying diapers, and even buying clothes.
13. Intimacy – You have to wait 6-8 weeks to be intimate with your wife once your child is born–maybe longer if there are complications. More importantly, you and your bff will never be truly alone again. But, it’s okay. You and she will make the adjustment, and you will never really want to go back to life “before baby.”
