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What Parenting Books Don't Tell You
12 More Tips for New Dads
By I.J. Schecter
Different Things Will Melt You
Your reaction and your spouse's reactions to your baby's behaviors are functions of many transient factors, including fatigue, mood, stress and so forth. That means you won't always be disposed to react to the same things in the same way at the same time. The little yawns might get you most often; for her it might be the baby's toes or that new-baby smell. Don't get upset if the other person's level of excitement or fascination doesn't match yours at a specific moment. Your child will be fascinating you both for the rest of your life. Bouncing Back from Baby
For a few months after the birth, your wife will be depressed about her body. At some point, despair will turn to determination, indicated by her waking one morning, turning to you and saying, "That's it." Do not tell her to take it slowly. Do not remind her it usually takes a year or more for a woman's figure to return. Instead, buy her any yoga or aerobics videos she'd like, buy lots of low-fat items for the house and take her for power walks. Just as it was during the pregnancy, what she needs now is your support and encouragement, not your logic. 
You Won't Believe How Fast It Becomes Normal
Exhaustion notwithstanding, you may be surprised at how quickly your baby's presence comes to seem natural and even serves as a calming influence. Before, you may have been indifferent – or even averse – toward other people's babies. Now you can change a diaper faster than a Formula One pit crew, and you can't imagine anything more wonderful than watching your baby sleep or holding him against your chest. This is the magic of a newborn.Want to see more?
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