Soldier on Dad

The nurse placed the little bundle in my hands. She appeared to have done this many times. I peered at the little figure sleeping soundly. My first-born-son. This feeling is better experienced than described. No one really prepares a man for fatherhood. As a young man you jump into marriage not fully comprehending the seriousness of what you are getting into. If you are unlucky, nine months after the wedding you are ushered into fatherhood. Reality sets in and you have to man up. There is no other way.

The baby, which is your baby, starts needing things babies need. You become an expert in diaper shopping. Previously, you walked by the diaper section in the supermarket. Now you spend considerable time there comparing brands, prices and whether they are diaper pants or the fastened kind. Then your wife might start changing your baby’s diaper too often. Like 10 times a day. She may do this because she too is a first time mother and does not know any better. You may squabble about this with her but she will have her way. She may ask you if you have ever raised a baby before and you will go silent. That is the safe route. Many married men have discovered this.

Then there is formula. That stuff costs money. Why doesn’t this baby eat regular food like all of us? Food such as cassava, potatoes rice. This is one entitled baby, sometimes you will think. But these are thoughts you keep to yourself. You will not mention them to you wife. You do not want trouble. You would think you don’t have equal ownership rights to the baby. You see you won’t be out to get the baby. You are simply asking pertinent questions that you wish you would get answers to.
Oh and this baby which I must emphasise is your baby will not use toilet paper. Naah... He will be too cool for that.

The baby will use wipes. All these costs are to your detriment. But you will soldier on. I will not mention the sleeper suits, feeding bottles, steriliser, baby shoes. Yes, the baby will need shoes despite that this baby will not walk even a kilometre in its first year. As years go by, you will do remarkably well in the fathering department. Most of the things you will learn on the job. It is not as complicated as everyone will make it seem. You will have to sacrifice a lot. But the sacrifices pay good dividends. When you raise God fearing children that are confident and can take care of themselves, you have done well. So soldier on and do not get weary.
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