Fatigue & Uncertainty
Expectant parents often wonder what their baby will be like, and whether they will be up to the challenges of parenthood. For new parents, lack of sleep leaves parents feeling exhausted. By toddlerhood, tiredness comes from the constant need to keep up with children's activities and feelings. If you need help, please see our resource page to get to a list of helpful organisations (e.g., Coram, Dadvengers, Fatherhood Institute, One Plus One).
Is That Going to Affect Our Baby
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Along the way I've had some worries, some concerns, which I think is all very natural. What if this happens, what if that happens, what if… I have a younger brother with Down's Syndrome, my husband has a nephew whose got various issues. So obviously there was an element of, you know, "Is that going to affect our baby?" We don't know.
Too Old to Keep Up
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Being an older dad, I have anxieties about not being athletically able or athletically capable enough as younger dads would be with their son in particular, uhm in terms of running about, football sports. I'm aware that, I might be, I suppose I've imagined myself from the point of view of of him as he gets older, looking more like a granddad more than a dad, by that time I'll probably have completely silver white hair, grey hair. So, I suppose, I have kind of reflected that, I suppose at this point in my life, I am going to be an older father. I counter that by hope that I have more wisdom and experience to bring to our relationship.
Feeling It in My Body
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He's very heavy, although I don't think he's actually a heavy baby, but he's heavy to me, 'cause my arms are hurting and my back's hurting and, "It's all your fault."
Am I Doing Enough
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She was calling daddy for a long time, and she didn't call me until, you know, probably about fourteen months. But now, I think, you know, it's really sweet, you know, that she starts to call me and yeah, I don't think I've got any negative emotions. If anything just, just sort of… I'm just worried that I'm not doing the right thing or doing enough.
