Do Babies Ever Sleep ??
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
April 3rd, 2007 at 11:11 am
I think the adjustment is much harder for fathers than for the new mother. They not only have to adjust to the new little being in the house, but to a wife who becomes a totally different person after childbirth. The changes aren’t always bad, but definitely take adjusting to.
April 3rd, 2007 at 1:48 pm
[...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptHe 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, … [...]
April 3rd, 2007 at 3:39 pm
Thanks Deanna,
I was lucky. My wife went back to work part-time, and I fixed my days off to cover work days, and never needed childcare. I had much more time with my daughter this way, and didn’t get it all in one hit in the evening.
April 3rd, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Awww, but I’m sure once the baby is older he’ll be glad for all the memories of having a newborn to love. Unfortunately my husband works nights, and sleeps all day. So there’s no handing the baby off to anyone. I know he misses all the bonding he never got to do.
April 4th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
Do women turn into monsters after childbirth? Why on earth do you all do this to yourselves? Let someone else have babies, do all the hard work and carry on the human race!