Being a dad may look demanding, tiring, unpleasant, stressful…. The list goes on. But nothing can compare you for how you’ll feel when it’s your baby.
Before Baby A was born I always thought children were bratty, smelly, noisy and just downright annoying. This was probably due to my wife running a dayhome and seeing just how crazy children can be.
But when it is your own, your attitude changes. Suddenly you find yourself laughing when she barfs all over the remote, screaming at the top of her lungs, or wide awake at 3 in the morning. There must be a switch that goes off in a dads brain or else who would ever willingly torture themselves?
Fatherhood is not rocket science. With a little knowledge and common sense you too can be Super Dad! Below is a list of skills you should possess if you want to have any sort of sanity in your life.
- Patience. This will be tested right from the start, and every day for the rest of your life. Probably the greatest parenting skill as it will keep you from screaming and throwing a baby across the room when she has been crying for 3 hours straight. The good news is that being a dad puts a lot into perspective and places where you’ve lost your cool will be easier to manage. A word of advice for dads: everyone has moments where they think they might lose it. Do yourself a favor and remove yourself from the situation, take a deep breath and try again.
- Sense of humor. Laughter will help weather the stress of sleepless nights and the drudgery of being knuckle deep in poop. Remember that these are memories you will look back at and laugh, so why not enjoy it now?
- Consistency. Babies thrive on consistency and routine. Structure allows children to feel secure and safe as too much choice is hard for little kids. With a routine in place for eating and naps, everyone will be better off!
- Read and learn. This is very important advice for dads. Not everything comes naturally. While you can learn to change a diaper from repetition, things like medicine dosages are better to learn beforehand.
- Love and affection. This is one of the most important things for your newborn baby. Studies have shown that physical contact between parent and child can help with development. Any contact will be beneficial to your baby. This also a great way for new dads to bond with their baby. Spend time laying on the couch with your baby resting on your chest. It is a great way to spend a lazy afternoon!
Keep in mind, as your baby grows so will you as a dad. You are not perfect and mistakes will be made. Learn from them and move on and you will be a better dad because of it.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m glad to see patience at the top of the list. It is by far the one I struggle most with, even patience with myself.
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The wife went out for dinner with her mom’s group tonight. My patience was truly put to the test for the first time. It’s a good thing Allison is cute or she would be stuffed under the mattress!
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“A word of advice for dads: everyone has moments where they think they might lose it. Do yourself a favor and remove yourself from the situation, take a deep breath and try again.”
This is very good advice for EVERYONE! I’ve put my toddler in a safe place and then taken a walk to the end of the driveway more than once.
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