Biggest shock becoming a father

[StuntmanMike]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

Vixpy1 said:

Don't look down the Business end, Its like someone driving a Buldozer through your favourite Pub.

Jesus, that was funny.

[northwest monkey]

eybic said:

I'm really looking forward to the emotional "switch" when he's born. The worrying thing is that I can't stand sick and st, so I've got some "interesting" times ahead

Me and the Mrs came to a deal on this - I dealt with one and she dealt with the other.

Once you've got settled, if you're going to bottle feed then take it in turns through the night.

If you're not going to bottle feed, just remember Tesco etc are open 24 hours and stock bottles, sterilisers, pre-prepared baby milk - just in case!

Oh, and the 10 weeks is a "no later than". Our son was 5 weeks early and another poster was 7 - be prepared with your "baby bag".

Enjoy it - once they start smiling back at you it suddenly seems all worth it

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Driller said:

You looked at "it" some time later and didn't have images of gore come flooding back?

You must have a really bad memory

Maybe I'm not very good at multi-tasking, but when I'm looking at "it" I only have one thing on my mind, which is more related to conception than birth.

[northwest monkey]

glasgowrob said:

thankfully the older ones are at an age now where they are taking an interest in my hobbies and its fantastic.

Stripclubs and all night drinking sessions?

[Silvs]

The single greatest shock for me was just how much time I wasted pre-children. I have 2 under 2 at the moment and they are fantastic in every way. However, my concept of spare time has completely changed. I cannot remember the last time I wasn't up before 7. I can't remember what having spare time to myself is like.

I do miss spare time but I would never go back. I enjoy spending time with my kids more than anything but on some days their bed time is very welcome!

[Vaud]

Silvs said:

However, my concept of spare time has completely changed. I cannot remember the last time I wasn't up before 7.

It has upsides - I get a lot done - washing, bake bread (toddlers are fascinated), and by 11am I'm exhausted and need a late morning nap...

[MiniMan64]

Silvs said:

The single greatest shock for me was just how much time I wasted pre-children. I have 2 under 2 at the moment and they are fantastic in every way. However, my concept of spare time has completely changed. I cannot remember the last time I wasn't up before 7. I can't remember what having spare time to myself is like.

I do miss spare time but I would never go back. I enjoy spending time with my kids more than anything but on some days their bed time is very welcome!

This is so true.

Existing on so little sleep and being responsible for someone all the time is a big change.

[eybic]

I've heard it said a few times lately that you don't realise how much free time you had until you have kids, I can't wait

[Justin Cyder]

My last lie in was in 2006. I'm not kidding.

[007 VXR]

iam lucky, i live at work , so have been able to spend every min with my boy, and spend more time than his mum bring him up. just love watching him grow and change everyday

[dazwalsh]

The lack of sleep was the killer for me. The mrs had a pretty traumatic birth so i had to pull my weight especially at night and getting up to face a 12+ hour graft each day on the back of 2/3 hours broken sleep nearly broke me. i also struggled to bond with my daughter during the first few weeks, I think the shock to the system meant i blamed her for it all which sounds bad i know.

But gradually over the weeks as her character started to develop it became the most amazing experience being a dad and she is nearly 2 now and words cannot describe how much love i have for her.

Now its Round 2, and as i type this i am holding my 3 week old son who despises his moses basket but will happily sleep in anyones arms or in our bed so it means i have to stay awake. We take it in shifts so at very least i am getting 5 hours sleep a night now which is just about enough.

Its a tough gig being a dad but entirely worth it!

[FredClogs]

Sleep is definitely the biggest thing for the first 3 months, people will invite you places, you might think its a good ideas to try to get out and about, don't bother just sleep as much as you can.

[talkssense]

FredClogs said:

Sleep is definitely the biggest thing for the first 3 months, people will invite you places, you might think its a good ideas to try to get out and about, don't bother just sleep as much as you can.

It's not just the first few weeks.

We were lucky in that we never really had the broken sleep thing after about six weeks, both have gone to bed from 7 (getting later as they get older) and partly due to those glow clock things when young both have woken at 7 ever since.

However, that is EVERY morning and now aged 8 and 4 it's a long time since I had a lie in. Sunday morning and I have been up for exact 47 minutes again.

I wasn't ever one for staying in bed anyway, but the option occasionally would be a bonus. Eight years without sleeping until eight is a long time

[eybic]

I've always been one to wake up early so that side of things doesn't worry me, it's the HAVING to get up that does

[sleep envy]

imp123 said:

Just how much poo can be produced by something so little, it's like poo-ma-geddon!

Unless it's in the hair it isn't considered a 'big' poo.

Oh, and that really small screw/part/coin that you thought you'd lost eleventy billion years ago, that will end up in the baby's mouth 2 days after it figures out how to crawl.

[FredClogs]

Oh yeah and the insidious nature of children's TV and the advertising there on. I try my best to keep them on the BBC (although their marketing and merchandising is equally as evil) but when Nick Jr are showing Ben and Holly on a 24 loop (which is like Breaking Bad to a 3 year old) it's very difficult to ween them off.

And for any pompous twits who are about to pipe up that 3 year olds should be out on nature walks and doing finger painting not watching TV - GTF.

[jshell]

miniman said:

3 weeks old:

This!

Cherish this as much as possible, because holding them like that, in one hand, on your chest as you listen to them breathe disappears in the blink of an eye.

>sniff<

[toon10]

For me it was holding onto the belief that I am still young and cool. No matter how you see yourself, your 13 year old son will always see you as the opposite.

[Tycho]

Vixpy1 said:

Don't look down the Business end, Its like someone driving a Buldozer through your favourite Pub.

So true.... such a great feeling though and you don't care about the nappies and puke either.

[Westy Carl]

eybic said:

I'm really looking forward to the emotional "switch" when he's born. The worrying thing is that I can't stand sick and st, so I've got some "interesting" times ahead

To make a TV analagy regarding the emotional switch;

Before Kids = small 12" portable black and white TV
The second they are born = 48" 4k hi-def dolby 5.1 surround sound.

It really is that big a change for all the emotions; frustration, love, helplesness, etc

Enjoy every minute if it