Day 4 of the #40Days40Dads campaign features my cousin-in-law1 Brad talking about life with his adorably jolly 2.5-year-old son. One aspect of Brad and Amanda’s parenting that I particularly hope to emulate is the way that having a baby–at least early on–did not completely transform their lives in a way that slowed them down from still having fun with each other and continuing some of their pre-baby activities. They continued to have adventures and just made the little guy a part of the experience. I know a lot of that depends on the temperament of the kid, but here’s hoping we get one like that!
Dad #4: Brad
Brad is the father of a 2.5-year-old son.
What was the moment when you first felt like a father?
First night home, and I was on deck caring for two.
What’s your favorite part about being a father?
Watching him develop and cuddling with him.
What’s the hardest part about being a father?
6 weeks without as even a smile from the baby mixed with sleep deprivation.2
What’s the dumbest/funniest thing that your kid has cried about or fought with you over?
Everything. (The Terrible 2’s should be named The Slightly Erratic At Times 2’s.) The funniest is me touching or interacting with Mommy. He gets so defensive!
What are you most proud of having taught/shared with your kids or what are you most looking forward to teaching/sharing with them?
I look forward to traveling and going on some awesome excursions to enhance his/their experiences. I’m hopeful that I can become greater skilled so I can reduce the learning curve it took for me to help pass the baton off to him/them.
What’s your favorite thing about your kids?
I love his playful innocence along with the optimistic hope that he/they may be good people.
If you could go back in time and give yourself a piece of advice when you first became a father, what would you say?
Due dates aren’t promised dates. Staying up late “cleansing” my gaming fun two weeks prior to the arrival date was a horrible idea.
Any other comments to share on fatherhood?
Don’t put a strain on two people when one person can handle the job. You can tag team. Amanda and I would sleep separately in the beginning so we’d each get at least five hours of solid sleep without disturbance. Even today, we recognize the need for “me” time to simply pursue our own interests, forcing us to be much less spontaneous.
If you’re a father or you know a father who would like to share his story, send him to this link to answer the questions. Stay tuned for another dad’s crib notes tomorrow!
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