‘Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me’: New Dad's Honest Lessons To Other Soon-To-Be Parents
For many of us it will be the most memorable and life changing moment of all, that magical moment the first child is born.
No matter how prepared you might think you are, all the classes, the sage advice from parenting pros and endless scrolling through sites like Mumsnet just cannot compensate for the overwhelming emotions and foreboding sense of responsibility that inevitably occurs when your first little angel emerges from the womb.
Imgur user joltjones took to the internet recently, fresh after becoming a dad for the very first time, with a revealing list of ‘those things I wish someone had told me.’ The tips, including those from his wife, are raw and from the heart. These are not supposed to be ‘parenting tips,’ more of an illustration of the experience of newfound parenthood. As well as being great reading for any expecting couples, veteran parents will also be able to relate with a knowing smile/grimace.
Scroll down below to check out the lessons learned from these doting first time parents, as well as reactions from those who totally get it. Although it can’t possibly replicate and prepare you for the real thing, there are plenty of eye-opening insights!
How does it feel to become a new parent?
This new dad shared his tips on how to deal with the experience
Mom shared hers too
People responded to the heartwarming post with congratulations…
…and advice of their own!
322Kviews
Share on Facebook
From a father of two for new fathers: 1. After birth your wife will be fragile as hell - help her get to the toilet, (mandatory!) back her up when she's taking shower (she can pass away). 2. Prepare mentally for baby blues - when your wife will be crying with no particular reason. She may say things that are sad, hurtful, scary - it's not her, those are her hormones speaking/crying. Withstand it. 3. Be patient. No, not like that. More. Your wife will be stirred by hormones and emotions. Your baby only knows how to eat, poop, sleep and cry. When you feel your temper is getting short - take a quick walk, scream, hit a tree, curse, whatever. And be back with more patience. 4. It's very probable that you will be the one who will bath and clean your baby for first month after birth. Do not think too much. Do it calmly and do not be afraid. 5. Get used to "stand-by mode". For a very long time you won't sleep few hours in a row. More likely you will get 40-50 min. long naps.
"back her up when she's taking a shower (she can pass away)" I'm 100% sure you don't mean what I'm reading this line to mean( gang up on the shower otherwise it might kill your misses) but what do you mean?
Load More Replies...
Mine is this: when people tell you that your life is about to change, they don't mean in a cute, flip way. They don't mean temporarily. They don't mean a little. Your old life is going to become almost unrecognizable to you in the span of a few days, and sometimes that will be overwhelming, or sad, or wonderful, or all of those things at once.....and sometimes you will mourn the loss of that life, while other times you think you would do it all again. You will love that little person so much you might actually hate the feeling at times because it's like letting your heart walk around outside your body. The biggest thing to remember is that ALL of the above is acceptable, so don't sweat it.
I need to add, to the person above that said he wished he knew babies cry for no reason. They don't. Be attentive and try to figure it out. Sometimes they're feeling lonely or scared and need to be held. Sometimes it hurts when poop is building in their intestines. If mom eats spicy food after giving birth, baby may love the flavor, but will cry "for no reason", due to the capsaicin in the spice burning their throat, tummy, guts, genitals and a**s. Sometimes their backs are itching, those really nasty itches that make you drop everything and reach for a back scratcher/run to the nearest doorframe to do the Baloo dance (jungle book reference, bear scratching back on trees and things). Sometimes acid in their tummies is just creeping into the esophagus just enough to cause heart burn, and the need to be vertical. Sometimes it's a trapped burp. Sometimes it's a nasty bout of gas. Sometimes they're too hot or cold. Yes, babies do get overheated and sometimes require to be cooler.
From a father of two for new fathers: 1. After birth your wife will be fragile as hell - help her get to the toilet, (mandatory!) back her up when she's taking shower (she can pass away). 2. Prepare mentally for baby blues - when your wife will be crying with no particular reason. She may say things that are sad, hurtful, scary - it's not her, those are her hormones speaking/crying. Withstand it. 3. Be patient. No, not like that. More. Your wife will be stirred by hormones and emotions. Your baby only knows how to eat, poop, sleep and cry. When you feel your temper is getting short - take a quick walk, scream, hit a tree, curse, whatever. And be back with more patience. 4. It's very probable that you will be the one who will bath and clean your baby for first month after birth. Do not think too much. Do it calmly and do not be afraid. 5. Get used to "stand-by mode". For a very long time you won't sleep few hours in a row. More likely you will get 40-50 min. long naps.
"back her up when she's taking a shower (she can pass away)" I'm 100% sure you don't mean what I'm reading this line to mean( gang up on the shower otherwise it might kill your misses) but what do you mean?
Load More Replies... Mine is this: when people tell you that your life is about to change, they don't mean in a cute, flip way. They don't mean temporarily. They don't mean a little. Your old life is going to become almost unrecognizable to you in the span of a few days, and sometimes that will be overwhelming, or sad, or wonderful, or all of those things at once.....and sometimes you will mourn the loss of that life, while other times you think you would do it all again. You will love that little person so much you might actually hate the feeling at times because it's like letting your heart walk around outside your body. The biggest thing to remember is that ALL of the above is acceptable, so don't sweat it.
I need to add, to the person above that said he wished he knew babies cry for no reason. They don't. Be attentive and try to figure it out. Sometimes they're feeling lonely or scared and need to be held. Sometimes it hurts when poop is building in their intestines. If mom eats spicy food after giving birth, baby may love the flavor, but will cry "for no reason", due to the capsaicin in the spice burning their throat, tummy, guts, genitals and a**s. Sometimes their backs are itching, those really nasty itches that make you drop everything and reach for a back scratcher/run to the nearest doorframe to do the Baloo dance (jungle book reference, bear scratching back on trees and things). Sometimes acid in their tummies is just creeping into the esophagus just enough to cause heart burn, and the need to be vertical. Sometimes it's a trapped burp. Sometimes it's a nasty bout of gas. Sometimes they're too hot or cold. Yes, babies do get overheated and sometimes require to be cooler.
206
39