Whoever said parenthood was easy was never a parent! At the risk of appearing as a sexist, having a child is more easily accepted and dealt with by women than by men. For most men, the first few weeks of fatherhood can be an unnerving experience. As per this report, this feeling doesn’t evade even the biggest of celebs and Justin Timberlake is one such celeb dad who has finally opened up about his fears and trepidations.
“You go through your life with your own traumas, big and small, and think, ‘It’s not that bad, I have a lot to be thankful for, my parents did the best they could,’’ he said according to this report. Justin added,“But then you have a child of your own, and suddenly it opens all the floodgates, and you’re like, ‘No, no, no! That childhood trauma really did f— me up!”
For Justin, fatherhood was not as he expected. But then, becoming a parent for the first is an overwhelming experience. Managing work and family is a task that one learns once you become a parent. Speaking about balancing both, Justin said, “At first, it broke me down…Those first eight months felt like those old [Ed Sullivan] shows where people are balancing spinning plates on poles — except if you drop one, they die.” Sounds familiar, dads?
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For first time dads, knowing that you are going to be a father and actually becoming one, are way too different. Here are some essential tips to get a head-start to a glorious fatherhood:
- Be a hands-on dad from day one: Do not wait for the baby to be slightly bigger to manage his chores. Take the plunge from day one. Get involved in the everyday chores like bathing dressing, playing, and nappy changing. This is also the best way to build your confidence and skill to handle a newborn. What’s more, this will ensure that you form a lasting and positive and with your child. Of course, your spouse will thank you for sharing baby-related chores and that’s nothing less than a bonus.
- Pay attention: Watch your baby. The newborn can’t communicate verbally, however, he can definitely show you signs of discomfort through his body language and of course, crying. Pay attention for what’s making your baby uncomfortable. Does he need to be fed? Does he need a change of nappy? Or is he just sleepy and needs to be rocked? I must warn you about the potential risk of falling head over heels in love with the bub the more you watch him.
- Bond through touch: A lot has been said about the power of a mother’s healing touch. A dad can also build on it, as a parent’s physical touch can make your baby feel safe and secure. It will also build his sense of trust and connection with you. Try rocking the baby gently, carrying your baby, or going for a walk holding him.
- Read up and educate yourself: There’s a first time for everything. You are not expected to know everything from the beginning. That’s why reading up and doing your research comes handy. Find information online, read up books on parenting and pregnancy and talk to other dads. Of course, experience si the best teacher. So spend maximum time with your baby.
Finally, do not look at it as a war you’ve got to win. It’s anything but that. In fact, it’s the beginning of one of the best experiences of life. Enjoy every bit of it.
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