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After almost two-and-a-half years, I find myself reflecting back on my experiences with fatherhood. Its clear to me now that the most uncertain period was the first six months or so, during which I had no idea if what I was doing was correct. With that in mind, I have decided to share my top 10 tips. These are for brand new dads, and also represent mistakes that I made in one form or another along the way. Hopefully a new father out there can benefit from my experiences on this topic and avoid some unnecessary ageda…enjoy!
1. Acting like you’re sleeping so hard that you can’t hear the baby crying at 3:00 am is not an original idea. Dads have been doing this since prehistoric times and Moms still don’t believe it. Get up and help.
2. Your in-laws are NOT your worst enemy after all. Send ‘em a fruit basket and have them watch the kid for a night or two. It’s the cheapest babysitting you will ever get.
3. If you enjoy the consumption of alcoholic beverages, continue to do so…often.
4. Learn how diapers work before the baby comes home and while its still light outside.
5. When your wife explains something to you about taking care of the baby, write it down. Not paying attention will blow up in your face the very first time your wife goes to the market and leaves you alone with the baby.
6. Systematically analyzing your baby’s response to various stimuli will NOT provide you with any insight into apparently random screaming. Try food, diaper changes or naps. That’s usually all it takes.
7. In the hospital they may hand you a pamphlet entitled “Do not shake your baby.” Do not laugh at this…read it.
8. Change as many dirty diapers as you can early on. This way, you can use it as leverage later when the contents become unbearably odorous.
9. Contrary to what you might believe, it IS going to become more difficult. Take a little vacation, go to the movies, have some fun. Your baby won’t fault you for it, and this is the absolute LAST chance you will have to watch an entire football game on TV for at least 10 years.
10. Enjoy the newly acquired knowledge that what you were living for before the birth of your first child was narrow and shortsighted. You’re a dad now. Love your kid…there is nothing else in life which can provide such a sense of fulfillment and well being as one’s own child.
Matt
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