HOW ARE YOU FEELING, DAD?

Pregnancy and becoming a parent is a journey on it’s own. We are often so focused on all the excitement of seeing mom and her growing belly, as well as meeting our beautiful little angels, that we sometimes forget about dad and all the emotions he is experiencing too.

We had a chat with one of our beloved dads to get some tips and to hear his thoughts about the whole experience of becoming a dad, which we hope could be helpful to you. This is what he had to say:

How did you feel when you found out you were going to be a dad?

Surprisingly calm. I somehow knew it was going to happen one day and I always dreamed of having kids. It came sooner than expected but I would not change a thing! Of course there were tons of emotions. One day I was excited and the next I was anxious - wondering if I would be any good at it. It’s definitely a rollercoaster of emotions from beginning to end.

What do you wish you knew before birth?

How amazing women are. We all know that women are amazing, but it wasn’t until I stood there in the delivery room absolutely hopeless watching a human come out of her that I truly realised she was magic. I learnt a whole new level of respect for her. 

What advice would you give a soon to be dad?

Be patient and be present. Pregnancy is not always easy for sure. There will be days when you feel like you have somehow lost a little piece of her, but she is still there. She is just creating a human and she will be back. She is actually even more amazing than before. The beginning can be tough as you adjust to your new way of life but don’t give up. Just be there.

What did you find the most challenging?

Sharing my wife. In the beginning she was exhausted and in full demand. It was hard not to take it personally when she didn’t jump at the opportunity to spend time with me. It’s a little selfish of me, but I soon learnt that it’s all part of the process and making sure she was always well rested and happy was a priority. She still loved me, she was just trying to keep our little human alive and healthy and the more I focused on that, the easier it was for us to flourish in our relationships and in our new roles.

What is your favourite part about being a dad?

Having a purpose. You don’t think much about it until you hold that little human in your arms. It’s a journey, one filled with growth and constant change. Watching your little one grow. Watching your partner grow. Personal growth and growth as a family. It’s beautiful.