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On Being A Father

24th Nov 2010

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There’s something about being a new father. There’s excitement in the air. Many new things loom ahead. It’s a completely life-altering experience, that will bring about definite changes. Of course, changes, especially of this magnitude, can be somewhat daunting. However, it’s not something to fear. It should be celebrated.

Fatherhood is definitely a life changing event. Many new fathers experience a rollercoaster ride of emotions-it’s not just expectant mothers who are fraught with emotional highs and lows. There’s the excitement of being dad, mixed with fear of not being a good enough parent, along with dread about the changes that will have to be made.

Fatherhood is a huge event. It changes you. The life you knew before won’t be the same.

Obviously, this brings up some tensions coupled with a good deal of anxiety and apprehension. When a huge, life changing event such as becoming a new dad is at hand, some people tend to panic, others become distraught and frustrated. But the good news is that these reactions are normal. It’s a very natural reaction.

It can be a difficult time in fact, but confronting the common fears that new dads and dads to be are facing can be quite helpful.

Many soon to be fathers grapple with issues like finances, health and alterations in lifestyle. It can be quite a shock to have to deal with all these changes at once.

One of the major issues that comes up when a new child is expected in a household is money. Money, is, of course, a contentious issue in most contexts, but it can be particularly troubling when it concerns providing for a child. Babies and children in general aren’t cheap. Expect to spend at least $10,000 in the first year alone. It may seem like a lot of money, especially in fiscally tight times, but you can make it work.

A young child needs diapers, special food, medical attention, clothes, toys, and the list goes on. It’s not exactly cheap to raise a child; but keep in mind too, that expenses can easily be reeled in. A budget needs to be made and stuck to. Of course, there will be some things that you have to give up, going out on the town, for instance, or getting new cars and gadgets may have to hold off. But remember too, that all a baby really needs is love.

Another concern that plagues many new and expectant parents has to do with the health of the child. On the one hand, so many things could possibly go wrong. It’s very easy to get lost amidst those fears and to let those fears get the best of you. But in reality, most babies, the overwhelming majority in fact, are born perfectly healthy. So instead of worrying over what might be, the best course of action to take is to think positively.

A common fear that afflicts many new parents is that of being not quite good enough. Many parents, fathers and mothers alike, have this idea of the ideal parent and they are afraid of not being able to live up to that. The truth is though, the very fact that you’re thinking about whether you can or can’t live up to that ideal goes to show that you care and that’s the first step to becoming a good father.

Love is what matters. All good fathers simply need to give a whole lot of love.

Damian Papworth is a dedicated dad and husband. He went so far as to take his wife shopping recently, she was searching for women’s walking shoes. He found this women’s shoes website very helpful.

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