Fatherhood

When you’re planning a trip out, you need to take a lot of factors into account. How far away is the place? Do they have catering facilities? Will it be interesting enough for you as well?

If your child has an interest in something, like the singer Kylie Minogue for example, its a great starting point. We discovered a great exhibition in London at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Its running until the 10th of June 2007,find out more…

Our daughter was so excited about it, we had no problem getting her out of bed. She sat patiently on the train trip to London. She even allowed us time to look in the Museum shop afterwards. A little thought certainly goes a long way.

In most big cities, there are lots of these type of activities. Look around on the web for details, or the many local guide magazines that are springing up all over.

Let me know if there are any great activities near you, and I can compile a links list here.

kylie, museum, london, kids, exhibition, dads

It seems a long way off when they’re born, but your kids will be relying on you for the next twenty or so years. Their rattles and soothers soon make way for playstations, guitars, bike, hockey equipment, dorm room computers, and cars. Add to that the rising cost of college, and you’ll be lucky to have two over-mortgaged sticks to rub together.

The best plan is to start early, and save little and often.

The fantastic effect of compound interest should help that cash to grow really well, and most countries offer tax breaks, and even help to get started.

See here how much it could all cost…

fatherhood, finance

As a bit of an old hand (my daughter is 6), an old school friend asked me for some advice. His daughter was due in February. What could I tell him to get him used to fatherhood?

Firstly, I told him to stay home, get as much sleep as possible, put on a bit of weight, and get all the jobs round the house done. He asked how bad could it be, having a newborn in the house? I tried to tell him it was a bit like the most annoying thing he had every experienced, times it by three, give it a genetic link and a cry at the particular frequency at which his skull resonates, and he’d be halfway there.

He didn’t get it….

For weeks before, every time I spoke to him it was ‘ooh, baby’s coming’. Then, after the birth it was always ’she’s here’ (at hospital at least). But then she came home…

The wife that is. He hadn’t dreamt of preparing for that. The only thing harder for a new dad to deal with, other than seeing your wife give birth, is bringing her home and being constantly told its all your fault.

He didn’t realise that although he had been out at work all day, his wife had been dealing with the baby all day as well, so handed the little cherub over the minute he walked in the door.

The last time I spoke to him, he was tired, stressed, and worrying about every new little noise from the baby.

He gets it now…

new dad, baby, babies, newborn, fatherhood