Seems Like Only Yesterday!
Did you feel ready when you became a father?
When my wife and I found out we where going to be having our son we decided we would take the first time parenting class that the hospital offered to new parents.
As I look back at it I thought coming out of the class that I would be ready for the delivery room, swaddling, and changing diapers. I mean I had gone to this class and had read a couple of books for first time dads.
…boy was I ever wrong!
There are a few things that I am not sure if they left out on purpose or just neglected it. Things that I wish I would have known going in to my first six months of fatherhood:
- The Delivery Room – The delivery room is nothing like the movies you see during the class. There are smells that accompany the room. I mean our room was nice and all but it is a hospital. I would suggest sneaking in a little can of body spray or something. Believe me, IT WILL, come in handy.
- Side note: The doctor only shows up to catch the baby by the way…Nurses do most of the work.
- Diapers – You will not be ready for the first few diapers. Consider yourself forwarded. Those first few diapers are like wiping motor oil of your newborns bottom. Fellas these diapers will be a test for you. Your wife will more than likely be recovering so it is you time to shine. No pressure.
- Hint: Make sure legs are secured and out-of-the-way or you will have more of a mess than you can handle. You are not changing a doll anymore!
- Free Is Good – Get all the free diapers you can from the hospital. They are not cheap! Also, make sure you take home the nose sucker they give you at the hospital. Those are top-notch. The one’s you buy at the store…not so much.
- Learn the Swaddle – Swaddling is a fine art and something I know my son needed. It is a fine art, master it.
- Cry Baby – Babies cry and you may too, but that’s okay. I had my nights when I felt completely overwhelmed, and I am not ashamed to admit it.
- Accept the Help – If a parent asks to help…let them. You may think you can handle it right off the bat, but you have no idea how your life has just changed. I know without my mother and mother-in-law’s help we would have been overwhelmed real quick.
- Camera Ready – Have Try to document as much as you can. Time really does fly by!
- Pray – Pray daily for patience and understanding because you will need both.
Those are just some of the things i wish they would have taught, or even mentioned, in the first time parenting class that my wife and I attended over two years ago now.
Even looking back at all the sleepless, nights, crying, and diapers I would not change it at all. I love being a father and consider myself blessed in so many ways. I am still learning a lot about parenting, something that I will continued to be educated in for years to come. Thankfully I have a wonderful life enjoying the education with me!
However, I have now mastered some of the things that all fathers must. More on that tomorrow!
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6
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Man, parenting is by far the toughest thing I’ve ever done and will ever do! My three boys not only keep me on my toes, but they also expose all the gross and dirty junk in me. So to answer your question – I wish someone had told me that I’m going to learn a lot of not-so-fun stuff about who I really am through parenting, but it’s all good because God will walk through it with me if I let him.
I am glad God will be with me through it that is for sure!
Thanks for the heads up Adam. I’m going to need this in about 6 months. And as far as diapers go I’m pretty much terrified already…
Great post!
Thanks. Those first few diapers are something else!
Great stuff! I can definitely identify with the delivery room, diapers and the crying.
There is nothing quite like pacing up and down the hallway with a crying baby and praying to God it stops before you collapse from exhaustion. I felt helpless on occasion and there was nothing I could do.
Of course Mommy would take her from me and she’d stop crying instantly. Go figure.
Yea man whats up with that. Must be that mothers touch…
This has been really helpful. I honestly hadn’t thought about these things. A few of my friends have recently had children and being married it will probably come up sooner than I think. These “other” tips will come in handy!
I’ve book marked this entry, lol!
Right on about those first few diapers. Amazing. I was also not told about the fact that all newborns look like Winston Churchill.
That is hilarious, and true!
Oh yes…the diapers.
There are so many things that I wish I would have been told… Like you should have something to cover your son’s exposed area when changing a diaper – unless you really do like fountains!
I think some of the best advice is don’t be afraid to ask for help.
And, find someone who has been through this before, maybe several times before, that can walk alongside you those first few months or years as a mentor – to give you a heads up on things as you enter the different stages of a baby’s life.
Someone who has been there is definitely a great resource.
I love this brother. Absolutely love it. I think something along the lines of get as much sleep as you can before you have a baby.
Now that girl number three is on the way ANY DAY now, it’s all just rushing together!
Sleep. What is sleep
My son is two and we are going through a stage, and it feels like he is a newborn again…
I’ll just go out and say it: I am a Master Swaddler. I didn’t learn it. It just happened.
Loved this post Adam. We can learn so much from those first few days with our babies…
Swaddling is a very fine art and one that requires mastery.
Being that I am no where near being a father, I enjoy and freak out while reading these posts. I told one of my friends that really all you need to do is get on Twitter, and follow a few blogs, and you’ll be scared out of parenting haha jk.
Funny. Parenting is no “walk in the park”, but I would not change it for a minute!
I have to say, reading, listening, and taking advice on parenting is wise. However, real life situations with real life children is the best teacher and experience you have. I read LOTS, I asked LOTS of questions and all of that went down the window with my kids. Every kid is different and every situation unique. The best advice I can give is: Have fun while messing up and doing your best. You’ll get the hang of it!
That is great Moe, and I totally agree. You ARE going to mess up that is for sure. You just have to learn from it and keep on going.
Thanks!
i think i stole everything that was in that room. ended up with an asain baby too, so we just took it. he’s cool.
#WIN
Wow… glad I read this. My wife and I are expecting our first little one in December!