Cooked Goose

Ten things I wish I knew in no particular order …

1. Didn’t think to ask when they do the circumcision. His was at his first in-hospital Dr. check-up. Early morning, day 2. I was not there. Whether you’re 2 days or 40 yrs old, someone taking a knife to boys is frightening to say the least. A familiar voice in the ear couldn’t have hurt. He sniffled in my arms the whole afternoon.
2. Not all diapers are created equal, nor are all babies built the same. Try some different brands to find one that fits your kid’s body. By chance, we discovered that a cheaper brand worked best for our kids. Fewer incidents of the dreaded “blast up the back”.
3. I wish I’d known my wife would suffer from postpartum depression. She didn’t understand it either, and was ashamed of her sadness. She cried everyday for weeks and did so in secret.
4. Compact strollers worked better for us than the huge, Cadillac, 20 cup-holder models.
5. Breast milk is better, but formula isn’t gonna ruin your kid. Your rabid desire to protect your kid is going to make you a bit irrational. Just know that.
6. Full-time breast feeding only lessens your chances of getting pregnant. Doesn’t rule it out. Who knew? Even with the menstrual cycle on pause. (Refer to post Speaking of Latex, March 12)
7. When they have an extremely high fever, you can double down on ibuprofen and acetaminophen. They get processed through different organs – kidneys and liver. Call a doctor to confirm.
8. If you can avoid it, do not take a big trip away from your family during the first year of your child’s life. They change almost daily.
9. A child isolates a mother. Good chance your wife will deal with loneliness.
10. Each day has it’s own joys and challenges. Do not wish for tomorrow; do not long for yesterday. The important life skill of living in the present is made all the more important in fatherhood.

Bonus: Listen to your wife’s intuitions. A mother’s intuition? Yeah, there is such a thing. I’m a believer.

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