Daddy Basics

The time is drawing near, we will be parents soon and our whole world is going to change. We have been going to many classes, reading books, and preparing for the arrival of Lillian. Sometimes we feel like we are as prepared as we can be and other times we feel like we have no idea what we are getting in to. I guess both are probably true, but if we are completely unprepared, it’s not for lack of trying.

Last night I attended a Daddy Basics course held at the local hospital here in Manhattan. Jenny learned about it from one of her friends at work and thought it would be good if I went since most of the classes and things we went to on Fort Riley really just focus on birthing and things that deal with Jenny more than me. So I went and ate the free pizza and drank the free soda and listened to what this guy had to say.

The class was taught by a guy that has three kids of his own so he basically just let us know what to expect with a newborn. It’s not that I feel like I know everything there is to know about being a new father because I don’t. It’s just that with all that I’ve read and heard at other classes I was listening to more of the same. There were some good pieces of advice about giving her a bath or giving an infant massage but for the most part it was a bunch of information that I’ve heard before.

I really just spent the class wondering about what kind of father I want to be. I’ve never been very good with kids. Other people’s kids do not interest me so for the most part I don’t care to interact with them but I feel it will be different with ours because she will be ours, mine and hers. So I’ve pretty much determined that I will be a good father to Lillian because I care enough to worry about it. I’m ready for her to be here and to start being a dad. I think I’m as ready as I’ll ever be, I can only take so many classes before they start repeating themselves.