By Adrian
Listening to Daddy’s opinion? Whatever next!
Hold on to your hats!- here’s something a bit ‘out there’: a man’s perspective on this parenting lark.
Brilliant Daddy Blogger ‘Dad Without a Map is a) Father to gorgeous Baby B (honestly he is seriously cute) b) bucking the trend*. Rather than grumbling or ranting, he has been writing about the positives of parenting; even singing the praises of toddlers.
Here’s his list of ‘Things I wish I’d Known Before I Became a Parent’:
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That babies sleep a lot when they are new. But not when you want to sleep.
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But you will be more tired than you thought possible for at least six months.
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That having children isn’t the end of your life.
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I’d become THAT person who posts about their child on social media all day. And starts a blog. What a cliche.
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That most midwives would barely acknowledge your presence in the room let alone ask your name.
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That what they tell you in ante natal classes about birth plans may well not work out – be ready for it.
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That poo came in more shades of yellow green and brown than a Farrow and Ball paint chart.
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But some baby poo wouldn’t actually smell that bad (is it because we’re related?)
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That I wouldn’t be completely useless at looking after our baby.
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And that he’d grow into a toddler in the blink of an eye.
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That incredibly I’d still get to go on boys nights out at least once a month (caveat – I don’t think this is a universal one just in case any dads to be reading this get too excited)
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But that hangovers mixed with a 6am start mean I wouldn’t really want to get drunk.
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That I’d feel so much younger once I became an older dad – even though I thought I’d have less energy.
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Babies are great if you can’t be arsed to go to the gym. ‘Have you been working out? No, just carrying a screaming toddler up and down the stairs all day.’
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That baby food really is as disgusting to look at as I’d feared. Still feel a bit sick thinking about pureed chicken and veg.
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But they soon move on to finger food and you can steal their home made fish goujons.
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That sonographers could get the sex of your baby wrong at the scan!
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But it doesn’t matter because boys can wear babygrows with little duckywucks on too.
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That some people will think your baby’s name is odd and won’t be very good at hiding it.
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And you should never discuss names before the birth.
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That once the initial buzz about the birth is over it can be quite dark at times – so look out for each other.
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That all those hours you spent feeling bored should have been cherished. Because once you have a baby you’ll still be bored but never have time to think about it.
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Did I mention new babies are quite boring? But toddlers are great fun and I hope the trend continues.
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That there are emotions you’d forgotten you could feel and new ones you’ve never experienced.
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Because you thought you’d been in love but you’d never loved someone more than life itself.
• Susie Verrill wrote a great piece about this phenomened. Here it is: http://mymiloandme.com/2015/09/eugh-kids/
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