First Time Fatherhood
 

Since joining this board almost a decade ago (wow, has it been THAT long), I know some of you guys have become first time fathers. Heck, some of you first time fathers have become second, third and fourth time fathers by now. Well, my wife and I are expecting our first in December. It's still a little early to make an official announcement, but we're so excited that we can't seem to keep it to ourselves.

Now, my wife bought me a "Fatherhood Survival Kit book" (I'm paraphrasing I don't know the exact title right off the top of my head) which I plan on reading cover to cover. But, I figured I'd get some "real life" testimonies, if you will, from some of you guys here who have recently (in the past several years) have become first time Dads. Heck, even those who have been Dads for awhile.

What was it like initially for you? Was it a "Oh crap, here goes the rest of my life" feeling or did you think of it as a cool new addition to an already pretty cool life? Did you think fatherhood changed you in anyway? Did you think it aged you (other than maybe maturing you?) Or, do you still feel as young as ever, just maybe a bit more grounded?

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

Still going through it, have twin daughters and have a son on the way. 3 infant/toddlers at the same time. I dont know what sleep is anymore. Also never having sex again. (Wife's words)

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

[quote=EARTHQUAKE2689;1070058]Still going through it, have twin daughters and have a son on the way. 3 infant/toddlers at the same time. I dont know what sleep is anymore. Also never having sex again. (Wife's words)[/quote]

LOL! Are you done after having 3? My wife and I say no more than 2!

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

I hope so. I cant remember the last time I had a shirt stay clean all day, and man they are a handful, and starting to walk so they are off. I think they like driving me crazy

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

At first I was freaked, now I am good

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

[quote=EARTHQUAKE2689;1070061]At first I was freaked, now I am good[/quote]

I have a feeling I'm going to say the same exact thing! I'm getting as much sleep right now as I possibly can, lol! It's funny though, I know people that I graduated High School with who are grandparents now! I can't even picture that at the age of 39 or 40!

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

I will say this, I didnt realize that much poop can come out of someone under 30lbs

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

Patience is the number one skill I had to work on. My children are 6 and 3; boy/girl.

At first when my son was born it turned my life upside down then I got in a groove and my daughter came along; I was still in the groove.

Now seeing my son at 6 I am done with diapers car seats and just baby things in general. I am ready for the next stage and my daughter is almost there.

Children will test your marriage; it is probably the ultimate marriage test. Right now I don't think of my wife as my wife just the person who is partnered with me in the business of raising kids.

Put all that aside and there are just moments that make it all worth it. My son this weekend had two awesome games that he played very well in (Hockey/ Baseball) and my daughter today when I was leaving here at day care told me she loves me very much. Moments like that will drive you when it all seems impossible.

Congrats Skinsguy!

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

The poop and the vomit will probably be something that will take me a long time to get used to, lol!

I think about the point where they are school-aged. I love the thoughts of being able to go to little league games and watch them play or recitals and so forth. That stuff I'm looking forward to (and hoping my children are healthy so that they can be a part of that stuff.) Most importantly, carrying on a long legacy of Redskins fandom. That is more important than anything else, lol! My dad was a lucky man when I came around, because when it came time for Sunday, I wanted to watch football - namely the Redskins! So he never had to worry with me wanting to watch cartoons instead, lol!

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

[quote=skinsguy;1070063]I have a feeling I'm going to say the same exact thing! I'm getting as much sleep right now as I possibly can, lol! It's funny though, I know people that I graduated High School with who are grandparents now! I can't even picture that at the age of 39 or 40![/quote]

LOL , it scared the living shit out of me !You just take one step at a time . If I can say one thing is not to take to much of what you read as absolute gospel, there are 400 books or more on parenthood, just kind of adjust you style to the child and soon you will all be in sinc .
Don't be afraid of them ,after a while the kids will teach you all you need to know .

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

Thanks Giantone. And that's probably true when they get to be in their teens. Because I can tell you when I was a teenage, I was much much smarter than my parents - at least I thought I was, lol!

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

We don't have kids, but a sincere congratulations to you and your wife!

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

I have 3 girls (6, 5, 9 months), and the best advice I can give you is to just take everything in stride. Things are going to happen, pop up, come out of left field, and the best thing to remember is that you can handle it, no matter how difficult it might seem at the moment.

The one thing that I've been able to do (with my wife's help) is my girls know that Sundays are football sundays. I get no arguments from anyone in the house once football is on the TV. The girls know that football will be on and while Daddy will help them or play with them, their shows will not be on the big TV during that time.

Fatherhood is really cool. So many different experiences, some good, some bad. Fatherhood has definitely aged me (I have the gray hairs to prove it), but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

Thanks TMC! I'm looking forward to it!

BDBohnzie: You'll have to tell me the secret on how you were able to train your children on the football. That is ONE thing that I told my wife that I cannot give up, and that's watching football on Sundays. Even so much so that we budget in NFL Sunday Ticket (above putting down new flooring in the house....lol) because she knows how important it is to me!

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

[quote=skinsguy;1070093]Thanks TMC! I'm looking forward to it!

BDBohnzie: You'll have to tell me the secret on how you were able to train your children on the football. That is ONE thing that I told my wife that I cannot give up, and that's watching football on Sundays. Even so much so that we budget in NFL Sunday Ticket (above putting down new flooring in the house....lol) because she knows how important it is to me![/quote]

You will be surprised how much football will take a back seat to your kids. At least for me I rather spend time with them then watching the Skins.

On the same hand you need to make time for yourself; it is important.

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

[quote=mredskins;1070094]You will be surprised how much football will take a back seat to your kids. At least for me I rather spend time with them then watching the Skins.

On the same hand you need to make time for yourself; it is important.[/quote]

That is why I am so glad for the invention of the DVR!

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

[quote=skinsguy;1070055]Since joining this board almost a decade ago (wow, has it been THAT long), I know some of you guys have become first time fathers. Heck, some of you first time fathers have become second, third and fourth time fathers by now. Well, my wife and I are expecting our first in December. It's still a little early to make an official announcement, but we're so excited that we can't seem to keep it to ourselves.

Now, my wife bought me a "Fatherhood Survival Kit book" (I'm paraphrasing I don't know the exact title right off the top of my head) which I plan on reading cover to cover. But, I figured I'd get some "real life" testimonies, if you will, from some of you guys here who have recently (in the past several years) have become first time Dads. Heck, even those who have been Dads for awhile.

What was it like initially for you? Was it a "Oh crap, here goes the rest of my life" feeling or did you think of it as a cool new addition to an already pretty cool life? Did you think fatherhood changed you in anyway? Did you think it aged you (other than maybe maturing you?) Or, do you still feel as young as ever, just maybe a bit more grounded?[/quote]

Congratulations, Skinsguy! I had one kid when I joined Warpath around the same time as you. Now I've got five (yeah, you read that right).

Life changes and there are sacrifices, but it's all certainly worthwhile.

My advice: always give more love than you think necessary; be patient and let them act like kids (it's easy to expect too much of them); work together with your wife and be consistent in disciplining your kids, but always follow-up discipline with a sincere showing of love; and as they get older make sure they see how much you love your wife and that she always comes first. Last one may seem counter-intuitive, but it makes for a stronger home and sets a good foundation for your kids' future relationships.

Fatherhood is outstanding. You're the best dad your kid(s) can have.

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

[quote=CooleyAsCanBe;1070107]Congratulations, Skinsguy! I had one kid when I joined Warpath around the same time as you. Now I've got five (yeah, you read that right).

Life changes and there are sacrifices, but it's all certainly worthwhile.

My advice: always give more love than you think necessary; be patient and let them act like kids (it's easy to expect too much of them); work together with your wife and be consistent in disciplining your kids, but always follow-up discipline with a sincere showing of love; and as they get older make sure they see how much you love your wife and that she always comes first. Last one may seem counter-intuitive, but it makes for a stronger home and sets a good foundation for your kids' future relationships.

Fatherhood is outstanding. You're the best dad your kid(s) can have.[/quote]

Awesome advice CooleyAsCanBe! Thanks so much for your input! It definitely sounds like you have your hands full! 5 kids! WOW!!!!!

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

[URL="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=NrWxdepLgTXtvM&tbnid=ByGuboHZ8FDZxM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.searchquotes.com%2Fquotes%2Fabout%2FFather_Daughter%2F&ei=LZdoU-i9HMK2yAGBhYCwDQ&bvm=bv.66111022,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNEwnOnZ2ph880CG5mTsrj2I2w3Jqw&ust=1399449581130280"][IMG]http://www.searchquotes.com/sof/images/picture_quotes/167517_20131211_183732_saying.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

[quote=Giantone;1070172][URL="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=NrWxdepLgTXtvM&tbnid=ByGuboHZ8FDZxM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.searchquotes.com%2Fquotes%2Fabout%2FFather_Daughter%2F&ei=LZdoU-i9HMK2yAGBhYCwDQ&bvm=bv.66111022,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNEwnOnZ2ph880CG5mTsrj2I2w3Jqw&ust=1399449581130280"][IMG]http://www.searchquotes.com/sof/images/picture_quotes/167517_20131211_183732_saying.jpg[/IMG][/URL][/quote]

I think every dad should have this motto going through his head! Lord knows I want to live up to that!

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

I have lots of thoughts, my girls are 7 and 4 now.

- The baby phase is the most wonderful thing you'll never want to do again. It's a wild ride, so many wonderful emotions. But the workload hits like a ton of bricks and the lack of sleep is brutal.

- I'd like to say you get used to changing diapers, but I didn't. So glad that phase is behind me.

- It definitely does test a marriage. Best advice I can give is be on the lookout for your wife, and have her on the lookout for you. Watch for signs of needing that break, and give it to her when you can. You'll know the look, she'll be in need of a night out with friends or just a night of uninterrupted sleep. Give it to her when you can, and ask her to do the same for you.

- I was already big on being responsible with money, having a kid made me even more so. As soon as you lay eyes on them for the first time it hits you that you're responsible for giving this kid every advantage you possibly can. And you'll want to.

- You sacrifice a lot for your kids. But the funny thing is you'll want to.

- Being a first time parent is scary as hell, but you'll be shocked how you'll instinctively know what to do. It will come naturally so don't be anxious about the unknown.

- Vaccinate your kids, for God's sake.

- Your life will change drastically. In the baby phase it's hard to imagine leaving the house for a bit. But take the baby out to breakfast, even if it's just Panera Bread or something, and you'll realize that life does go on post-kids. You can eat out as a family and enjoy some of the same things.

- And lastly, while your life will completely change and frazzle you plenty of times, you'll never want to go back. Now when I think about my funeral someday, the #1 thing I hope people say about me is that I was a great father. Being a father is terrific and I think you'll feel the same.

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

[quote=Schneed10;1070802]I have lots of thoughts, my girls are 7 and 4 now.

- The baby phase is the most wonderful thing you'll never want to do again. It's a wild ride, so many wonderful emotions. But the workload hits like a ton of bricks and the lack of sleep is brutal.

- I'd like to say you get used to changing diapers, but I didn't. So glad that phase is behind me.

- It definitely does test a marriage. Best advice I can give is be on the lookout for your wife, and have her on the lookout for you. Watch for signs of needing that break, and give it to her when you can. You'll know the look, she'll be in need of a night out with friends or just a night of uninterrupted sleep. Give it to her when you can, and ask her to do the same for you.

- I was already big on being responsible with money, having a kid made me even more so. As soon as you lay eyes on them for the first time it hits you that you're responsible for giving this kid every advantage you possibly can. And you'll want to.

- You sacrifice a lot for your kids. But the funny thing is you'll want to.

- Being a first time parent is scary as hell, but you'll be shocked how you'll instinctively know what to do. It will come naturally so don't be anxious about the unknown.

- Vaccinate your kids, for God's sake.

- Your life will change drastically. In the baby phase it's hard to imagine leaving the house for a bit. But take the baby out to breakfast, even if it's just Panera Bread or something, and you'll realize that life does go on post-kids. You can eat out as a family and enjoy some of the same things.

- And lastly, while your life will completely change and frazzle you plenty of times, you'll never want to go back. Now when I think about my funeral someday, the #1 thing I hope people say about me is that I was a great father. Being a father is terrific and I think you'll feel the same.[/quote]


Good post Schneed10! I don't dare think I'm going to be prepared, because the truth is, I don't think one is ever truly prepared for fatherhood. But like you said, instinct kicks in and, just like the ol' Nike catch phrase, you "just do it"! I love babies (when I can hold them and give them back, lol) but I'll be looking more forward to the time when my children are past the baby stage. Let's face it, past the no sleep stage, lol!

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

Congrads man. Really happy for you. A couple of my friends are becoming fathers these days and it really has been a great experience for them. They still [URL="http://youtu.be/6z7gYKKxBKc?t=3m44s"]won't tell me how babies are made[/URL] but I'll get it out of them eventually.

With that said please keep the following in mind. If you give your kid weird spelling of a common name like Loryn, Alyce, Jayson, Jakob, Markus, Kristopher or God forbid Aimee (with 2 F$*$*& E"S) I will call social services on you so quick you won't know what hit you. I will also put a bunch of cuban cigars as well as [URL="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/worlds-strangest-illegal-souvenirs/8"]Embargoed Gold[/URL] in your basement and place a call to US Customs just in case social services drops the ball.

Same applies if you go the Hollywood route and decide to name your kid something like Apple or North West.

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

[quote=Dirtbag59;1071549]Congrads man. Really happy for you. A couple of my friends are becoming fathers these days and it really has been a great experience for them. They still [URL="http://youtu.be/6z7gYKKxBKc?t=3m44s"]won't tell me how babies are made[/URL] but I'll get it out of them eventually.

With that said please keep the following in mind. If you give your kid weird spelling of a common name like Loryn, Alyce, Jayson, Jakob, Markus, Kristopher or God forbid Aimee (with 2 F$*$*& E"S) I will call social services on you so quick you won't know what hit you. I will also put a bunch of cuban cigars as well as [URL="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/worlds-strangest-illegal-souvenirs/8"]Embargoed Gold[/URL] in your basement and place a call to US Customs just in case social services drops the ball.

Same applies if you go the Hollywood route and decide to name your kid something like Apple or North West.[/quote]

LOL!!! Thanks Dirtbag! Well, I can tell you that we have settled on a girl's name. Sophia - Sophie for short (even though it's the same exact number of letters, lol!) Have not settled on a boy's name just yet. I kind of like Benjamin but not sure what his middle name would be.

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

[quote=Schneed10;1070802]I have lots of thoughts, my girls are 7 and 4 now.

- The baby phase is the most wonderful thing you'll never want to do again. It's a wild ride, so many wonderful emotions. But the workload hits like a ton of bricks and the lack of sleep is brutal.

- I'd like to say you get used to changing diapers, but I didn't. So glad that phase is behind me.

- It definitely does test a marriage. Best advice I can give is be on the lookout for your wife, and have her on the lookout for you. Watch for signs of needing that break, and give it to her when you can. You'll know the look, she'll be in need of a night out with friends or just a night of uninterrupted sleep. Give it to her when you can, and ask her to do the same for you.

- I was already big on being responsible with money, having a kid made me even more so. As soon as you lay eyes on them for the first time it hits you that you're responsible for giving this kid every advantage you possibly can. And you'll want to.

- You sacrifice a lot for your kids. But the funny thing is you'll want to.

- Being a first time parent is scary as hell, but you'll be shocked how you'll instinctively know what to do. It will come naturally so don't be anxious about the unknown.

- Vaccinate your kids, for God's sake.

- Your life will change drastically. In the baby phase it's hard to imagine leaving the house for a bit. But take the baby out to breakfast, even if it's just Panera Bread or something, and you'll realize that life does go on post-kids. You can eat out as a family and enjoy some of the same things.

- And lastly, while your life will completely change and frazzle you plenty of times, you'll never want to go back. Now when I think about my funeral someday, the #1 thing I hope people say about me is that I was a great father. Being a father is terrific and I think you'll feel the same.[/quote]

Great post Schneed. Fun times.

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

tip - never ask the mother of your child why she seems angry in the morning ... bc she will kill you.

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

[quote=over the mountain;1072903]tip - never ask the mother of your child why she seems angry in the morning ... bc she will kill you.[/quote]

Heck I'm finding that out even before the baby gets here!

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

Great post Schneed ! Being a father is quite awesome. My son is now 6 and 2 days before his 6th birthday this genius falls off our deck ! About a 12 foot fall give or take and how he didn't break a bone in his body I still don't know. They will test you.....man will they test you but that first time you pick them up from somewhere and they sprint towards you screaming Daddy.......Priceless ! Enjoy it, remember that that child is a miniature you and that whatever you did trust me they will as well lol !

Well congrats on the new addition skinsguy. Take pictures, record as much as you want because things change very quickly. Once they sit up they're crawling. Once they take that first step they'll be running. Once they mumble they'll be carrying on conversations with you.

I have baby #2 coming this September, this one is a girl. Waiting for my NRA Menbership Card to come in the mail now.

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

[quote=MonkFan4Life;1073097]Great post Schneed ! Being a father is quite awesome. My son is now 6 and 2 days before his 6th birthday this genius falls off our deck ! About a 12 foot fall give or take and how he didn't break a bone in his body I still don't know. They will test you.....man will they test you but that first time you pick them up from somewhere and they sprint towards you screaming Daddy.......Priceless ! Enjoy it, remember that that child is a miniature you and that whatever you did trust me they will as well lol !

Well congrats on the new addition skinsguy. Take pictures, record as much as you want because things change very quickly. Once they sit up they're crawling. Once they take that first step they'll be running. Once they mumble they'll be carrying on conversations with you.

I have baby #2 coming this September, this one is a girl. Waiting for my NRA Menbership Card to come in the mail now.[/quote]

Congratulations MonkFan4Life! And yeah, my wife doesn't like for me to own any guns, but I told her if we have a girl, it becomes a necessity for fathers!

I'm getting really nervous, because we're about six weeks out from learning what the sex is going to be, and to check to make sure there is no intellectual disability issue. My wife asked me last night if I would be OK with the baby if he/she wound up having an intellectual disability. I don't believe in abortion and feel each child is special in God's eyes, but I'm not going to lie - it really frightened me to think about the possibility of that. I would love and care for my child no matter what, but I know how difficult it would be to take care of a child with an I.D. issue - especially the older they get. I know that can be a big challenge for marriages! But like I said, I will love her/him no matter what, because he/she will be my flesh and blood!

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

True indeed. Me and some friends were talking about the same thing because I told them that my wife and I declined to have the test. I looked at it like I'd rather find out once the baby was born as opposed to knowing now because like you said I'm going to love that child no matter what. And 2, if I know now that's just a whole lot of worry and stress that I'll endure, and to be honest. To hell with me, my wife will have that on her mind and I didn't want that on her. I say don't worry. You guys get the test, you already know what your decision will be either way but I know we did it with our son but figured why bother with this one.

The Old Wives Tale I was told and it's held true with my two so far lol is that if she had morning sickness then it's a girl. If not, then it's a boy. I've been told on a few occasions that this is complete boulderdash but it was true in my cases. Enjoy it my man ! Watch everything, it's the most beautiful disgusting thing that you will EVER see.

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

Congrats skinsguy! I recently joined the fatherhood club, I have a three month old baby girl. Here's what I've learned so far:

- Enjoy your time with your wife as much as possible, because things will be different once the baby arrives. We went to Disney World at the end of my wife's first trimester and we had a lot of fun. Went out to restaurants, movies, and whatnot. Also, enjoy your sleep now as much as you can.

- Throw any concepts of "planning" out the window.

- Make sure you pack yourself a "Dad" bag when you go to the hospital. Your wife will be taken care of at the hospital, but you won't. There are some useful ideas on what to bring online.

- Don't worry about buying a lot of clothes for your baby. Your family and friends will probably buy a ton of clothes as gifts. Especially if you are having a girl.

- You will learn how to handle your baby. When I first picked up my daughter and had to change her diaper, you would have thought I was handling a slippery ticking time bomb. By the time I left the hospital, I was a pro at changing diapers and carrying her around.

- Make sure you and your wife check each other's patience level, because the baby will test it. And don't feel bad when it happens. There were some times when my wife would tell me to take a break and would take the baby, because she could tell my patience was running low. And there were times when I would do the same to her.

- You will learn to deal with the lack of sleep. Since I'm in grad school, I was used to little sleep (although this is different). But my wife wasn't, and she managed the lack of sleep very well. I would say the first three weeks are the toughest. The best thing to do is to take turns with your wife in terms of sleeping and taking care of the baby. I was lucky that I was able to take almost four weeks off work.

- Be ready for your baby to puke on you, pee on you, and poop on you. I had those three things happen to me in one day.

- If you have a dog, try to remember they exist every once in a while.

- There's going to be a lot of trial and error, be patient about it.

- Make sure you are equal partners with your wife in terms of the taking care of the baby. Take turns changing diapers, feeding the baby, burping the baby, and playing with the baby. Also take turn with the chores (for the first week or so, I felt like I was washing bottles every hour). When you return to work and your wife stays and home with the baby, remember that taking care of that baby is A LOT of work. Make sure you give your wife a break when you get home.

- Take lots of pictures of your baby and enjoy the experience. There are very few things like it. :)

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

get a bookbag designed for babies instead of a traditional diaper bag.

i have an eddie bauer bookbag and it has an insulated side pocket for bottles/sippy cups and all the necessary compartments and what not for diapers, wipes, snacks, toys, whatever.

I found that a diaper bag would just slip down my shoulder and be real annoying when i had to carry my daughter bc she didnt want to be in he stroller anymore, push her stroller, carry her sippy cup or some other things etc ...

i was in the french quarter w my daughter and had all of the above going on and trying to navigate curbs etc and then i saw this dad with 2 or 3 kids and he was handling things great and i realized he was wearing a bookbag and he wasnt constantly battling this diaper bag that just wants to slide down off my shoulder every 4 steps.

daddy book bag. genius.

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

[quote=MonkFan4Life;1073108]True indeed. Me and some friends were talking about the same thing because I told them that my wife and I declined to have the test. I looked at it like I'd rather find out once the baby was born as opposed to knowing now because like you said I'm going to love that child no matter what. And 2, if I know now that's just a whole lot of worry and stress that I'll endure, and to be honest. To hell with me, my wife will have that on her mind and I didn't want that on her. I say don't worry. You guys get the test, you already know what your decision will be either way but I know we did it with our son but figured why bother with this one.

The Old Wives Tale I was told and it's held true with my two so far lol is that if she had morning sickness then it's a girl. If not, then it's a boy. I've been told on a few occasions that this is complete boulderdash but it was true in my cases. Enjoy it my man ! Watch everything, it's the most beautiful disgusting thing that you will EVER see.[/quote]

I've also heard that if she experiences a lot of acid reflux (which she has) then it's going to be a hairy baby, lol! Well, she is Italian, so that's probably going to be the case, lol! We're going to give birth to a bearded baby boy, lol!!!!

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

Ruhskins & Over The Mountain: Excellent advice, guys! Much appreciated! I like the idea of the daddy book-bag! I'm already looking into things that will make it as hands-free as possible. Such as the thingy to strap the baby to you so you're not pushing him/her in the stroller all the time or carrying him/her. The sleep thing I'm sort of worried about. I can make it on five hours of sleep, but any less than that and I'm just a puddle of mud, lol! I know I'll adjust, but that part is going to be interesting. I'm going to try to take some time off in the beginning, because I think dads need some type of maternity leave like the moms do! I probably could take a month off, but maybe if I could at least take a couple weeks off in the beginning, that would help!

We have already gotten some clothes donations, and I have a feeling we won't have to buy many clothes for the baby. We're also blessed in that my brother and siter-in-law have four kids - all ranging from 10 down to 3 or 4, so we might be able to get their hand-me-downs!

How did you guys handle the mood factor with your wives? My wife's emotions have been all over the place! I've learned to pick my battles, hahaha!!!

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

[quote=skinsguy;1073197]

How did you guys handle the mood factor with your wives? My wife's emotions have been all over the place! I've learned to pick my battles, hahaha!!![/quote]

ok ,here ya go ....

1) when you know you're wrong ,admit you're wrong

2) when you're not sure who is wrong ,admit you're wrong .

3) Now when you are sure she is 150% wrong , admit you're wrong !

................things will always run smooth !(nope that is BS)

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

[quote=skinsguy;1073197]How did you guys handle the mood factor with your wives? My wife's emotions have been all over the place! I've learned to pick my battles, hahaha!!![/quote]

I was pretty lucky that my wife didn't go completely off the chart with her emotions. She was definitely miserable during the first and third trimester. And I'm sure your wife will be the same during that last trimester. During this time they'll barely sleep and be super uncomfortable.

After the baby was born, she did have a couple of crying episodes. I would say avoid any conflicts, help her out as much as possible, and just be ready for the emotional episodes to happen.

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

my lady told me she was constantly having the mental image of putting on a high heel shoe and driving the heel through my eye ball.

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

My wife is taking a much deserved trip to Tennessee this weekend to visit her best friend. Of course, she left me a big "honey do" list of things she wanted done while she was away. It kind of made me a bit upset, because I actually had planned to work on a lot of things while she was gone - simply because there would be nobody there to get me off track on my house projects and I feel more accomplished when it's not on someone's lists! But you better believe that I'm going to enjoy my time at home with peace and quite! I got things on the DVR I can watch, beer in the fridge, pizza.....of course after I do some P90X, lol!

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

[quote=skinsguy;1073197]
How did you guys handle the mood factor with your wives? My wife's emotions have been all over the place! I've learned to pick my battles, hahaha!!![/quote]

Lets check in with Marriage correspondent Ray Rice.
[YT]jB3HVknCusQ[/YT]
#TooSoon #NotCoolDirtbag #You'reProbablyNotBetterThanThisButYouShouldAtLeastActLikeYouArePlusThisHashTagIsWay2Long #NoThereIsNotASpaceBetweenLeastAndActOnPreviousHash #DammitStupidFormatting

Re: First Time Fatherhood
 

[quote=skinsguy;1073321]My wife is taking a much deserved trip to Tennessee this weekend to visit her best friend. Of course, she left me a big "honey do" list of things she wanted done while she was away. It kind of made me a bit upset, because I actually had planned to work on a lot of things while she was gone - simply because there would be nobody there to get me off track on my house projects and I feel more accomplished when it's not on someone's lists! But you better believe that I'm going to enjoy my time at home with peace and quite! I got things on the DVR I can watch, beer in the fridge, pizza.....of course after I do some P90X, lol![/quote]

DEAR GOD COMPLETE THAT LIST!!!

When she gets home offer a foot rub. It helps. Every one was right about you being wrong until she deems you worthy of being right lol!