You should be. Life is going to change, but then again it’s going to change anyway. Always does. Sometimes slowly, and sometimes the whole world turns in a moment. Like when you find out you’re going to be a father, or your first child is born. If you’re reading this…
…you must be heading in that direction, and most likely wondering what you’re about to get into. Well, here it is straight.
Yes it’s going to be hard work, but it’s so worth it.
Yes your priorities are going to change, but you won’t mind.
Yes, your life will be turned upside down, but it will be eminently richer because of it.
You should only really be concerned if you’re not prepared, at least a little bit for what’s ahead. And that’s easily addressed. So, allow me to allay some of those fears, and help you prepare for what is probably going to be, the best thing that has ever happened to you, ever in your life. Ever. Got it…?
Ok. Here we go.
Do some reading.
Well you’re reading this so that’s a start, but you need to do more. Find out what’s going on during the pregnancy. And don’t wait for your good lady to thrust a book in your face and tell you to get on with it. Be proactive, find something that’s manageable and get stuck in.
You’ll find the whole experience much more rewarding if you know what’s happening at any particular stage in the process.
It really is amazing what happens to bring a new wee person into the world. The most advanced species on the planet is built from scratch in just 40 weeks, but it’s almost fully developed by week nine – only having to grow in size from then on. Nine weeks!
Do whatever you want.
Is there anything you’ve always wanted to do but not quite gotten around to yet? Do it now. Go and climb your mountain, jump out of that plane, spend a week lying on a beach just reading books. Whatever it is, now’s the time.
It’s not that you won’t be able to do these things ever again, just that it might be a while before you have the chance. And it’s a different ball game when a little one arrives; base-jumping might not seem like such a good idea anymore…
Get your finances in order.
If you’re about to transform from a double-income household to a one-income family, a little planning might be a good idea.
For example, if your partner is going to take some time off work try to save up in advance to cover the loss of income. Try and forecast your expenses, and, definitely make sure you don’t miss out on anything you’re entitled to from the Government.
All of this is easier said than done of course, and I do love that Mike Tyson quote “Everybody has a plan, until they get punched in the face”.
“Everybody has a plan, until they get punched in the face” – Mike Tyson
Fair enough. You don’t know exactly what’s going to happen, but if you have a plan at least you’re climbing into the ring with some kind of idea – rather than just lumbering around and hoping for the best. Which kind of leads me into my last point…
Get ready to lose control.
Seriously. In fact, you’re about to discover that you never really had any control in the first place.
Our first daughter was born three weeks early. Not, in the plan. Not in our plan anyway. That was three weeks my wife was going to have off work, relaxing at home and getting ready. Nope. Change of plan. Work right up until Friday, go to hospital on Sunday, have a baby 40 hours later. Not in the plan. You getting the message?
Control. Gone. Instantly. For some people that’s fine, but for others – the fact that we’re totally susceptible to the whim of fate is a hard pill to swallow. Nevertheless it’s true, and you might want to spend a little bit of time contemplating that. Preparing your mind for the reality.
And that’s it – you’re ready.
You’re about to become a daddy – the most important, most rewarding and longest lasting job in the world. It’s amazing. It’s awesome. It’s exhausting, trying and terrifying. In fact it’s all of that and more – so sit back, strap in and enjoy the ride.
