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Congratulations, Dad
A Dad's Eye View of Finding out You're Going to Be a Father
By Mark Stackpole
So, aside from dating practices, what are new dads most worried about when it comes to the arrival of their little one? A lot. For starters, our society never assumes that fatherhood comes naturally for men. (We do assume that mothering comes naturally for women, though, of course, that stereotype is not necessarily true, either.) We can and do get up for midnight feedings, change radioactive diapers and spend quality time with our kids. Despite our capabilities, fathers-to-be and brand-new dads often do feel insecure about their parenting skills, right down to whether or not they can even hold a new baby properly.
"What if I break her?" I asked my wife before my daughter, Corinne, was born.
"You're not going to break her," my wife, Charlotte, answered.
"But what if I do?" I asked again, adding a whine for emphasis.
"You won't," came Charlotte's calm reply.
And I believed her – but not without some hesitation and anxiety. When Corinne finally came, as little and pink and perfect as she was, I realized that I was in absolutely no danger whatsoever of breaking her. But then I started to wonder about the correct temperature for formula, and worrying about whether or not her pink tights matched the ever-so-slightly less pink shirt. How do I put a bow into a little girl's hair? What if Charlotte goes outand Corinne won't stop crying? Heaven forbid, what if I resent her for taking so much of Char's time and attention away from me? Maybe breaking her would end up being the least of my worries.
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