Thread: Fatherhood (and motherhood for the ladies here)

I don't know if there's a thread about this already, and I'm too lazy to really look so I'm starting one about the absolute joy of being a father. I'm sure many of the members here who are fathers can relate. I'm just going to make a thread for people to share some of the fun times that come with being a parent to a little human being. I'll start off with a couple of my own observations and experiences...

For those of you "in the know" in regards to my personal life, I am in the midst of a divorce. The one good thing that came of my relationship with the putative ex Mrs. Sixpack is the very adorable son I have. I get joint custody and I really enjoy my time with him. He's seven years old, and so much fun to be around.

Just a few minutes ago I made him a grilled cheese sandwich. He said, "Aren't you gonna' make one for yourself dad? They're really good, you're like a master chef". He said it totally seriously, too

I laughed so hard I almost cried, and I almost cried because he's so sweet. I make him macaroni & cheese from a box and he says "You make the very best mac & cheese dad!" I make him toast, toast, and he tells me it's the best and that I'm the best cook in the world. It's so wonderful to be thought so highly of by such a sweet and innocent child.

Don't get me wrong, I think I do allright in the kitchen. But most of the things I make for me and for other adults is really a bit too complex for his young palet, so I end up making him the most bland food, which he seems to like well enough.

I remember on his sixth birthday I made him a pancake shaped like the number six, and put a candle on it for his breakfast. He loved it. I love to do special things like that for him from time to time.

Yesterday, I had to give him a haircut. We actually had a good time while I did it. We were joking around and he was giggling and laughing and it was just a wonderful time. After the haircut, I dropped him into the shower so he could wash all the hair off of himself. I asked him when he was finishing up in the shower if he'd washed every part of himself, and he said "I even washed my shiny hiney", I asked, "is it all squeaky clean?" and he said "Yes". I was drying him off a few minutes later and he farted really loudly and I said, "that must be your squeaky clean hiney squeaking". He laughed so hard I thought he was gonna' pass out.

There days when I'm acutely aware of how quickly he is growing up, and then I try to etch the memories as deeply into my mind as I can. The way he looks, the way it feels to hold him, the sound of his voice, the way he smells, and the things he says.

All in all, Fatherhood is about the greatest thing going. What does everyone else here think about it?

The innocent of childhood....Ah, how I missed that. I have too many fond memories of my children. My kids are 22,20 and 18 yrs old. I look at them and wish their were small again, but that is being selfish. I had the opportunity to be a stay at home mom for the first 9yrs from my first born. The good/bad times and memories that I cherished raising my children will always be with me to the end. My husband say to cut the strings with my boys, and let them be.... Don't get me wrong, I'm not a helicoptor mom. As a parent it is hard to "cut the strings" --you will always worry about them. I will be on my death bed and I will never cut the string.
My advice for new parents enjoy every moment and don't complaint. The years go by so quickly and then they are all grown up.

My boy is about to start kindergaarten. O.... I was lucky enough to get a position as a nanny for the first two-ish years, so I got to be with him during the extra special cute time, but I really like it now that he can talk (and I will remind myself of that the next time he won't stop!). Man, he is a chatterbox - and some of the ideas he has!

He's always been a really sweet kid - for example - I have a friend who was going through some really severe health problems when he was very wee. We went over to her house and she was obviously in pain - he was about 15 months or so, and he went over to her and very gently started patting her hair and saying "shhh shhh".

He's been drawing a lot of pictures lately, and I am glad to say that all the people he draws are smiling. My ex-mother in law noted that that's a very good sign (she's a developmental psychologist).

He's also trying to spell things. Some of it is pretty close. "Ghoul" came out as "Gol", so he hit the "sounding" letters. Not too bad.

I am lucky he still likes to snuggle a lot, too. He's just a sweet sweet kid.

Being a prent is the best thing in the world. I have 2 lovely daughters (and one lovely wife )

The oldest is 4, the youngest almost 2. Both fill my heart with joy, every time I see them.

The best thing is their total honest and innocence. Whatever comes out of their mouth, or whatever they do, they mean it. Right now, my oldest says I am the best daddy in the world. They can also say the darndest things. A couple of weeks ago we were visiting friends, and the woman was breastfeeding the baby. My oldest runs up to her and says 'WHAT are YOU doing?' : my wife never did breasfeed, so it was new to her.

Or when we were walking behind the hearse at my grandmother's funeral, she suddenly yelled. 'Grandpa, not so fast, my underpants are riding up my butt' followed by her pulling up her skirt and adjusting her underpants...

Then again at times she says things that are just perfect and which can break me down completely.

What is interesting is the unconditional love for my kids. Last week we had a training in extinguishing fires, and the fireman said that training is one thing, but in reality you'd likely forget a lot of the safety tips. He named a couple of examples like 'not jumping in the water to rescue your kid if you can't swim' or 'not going back into a burning building'

The women next to me said 'but why would you do that anyway? It's pointless'...

If my daughter would be inside a burning building, I'd pity the fireman who tries to stop me... These are things that you cannot rationally explain. The second you hold that newborn kid in your arms, the world changes for good.

As for cutting ties...
'Yer son's yer son 'till he takes a wife, but yer daughter 's yer daughter all yer life'

Originally Posted by Elliette

He's been drawing a lot of pictures lately, and I am glad to say that all the people he draws are smiling. My ex-mother in law noted that that's a very good sign (she's a developmental psychologist).

My daughter is always drawing pictures. Lots of colors, and lots of smiling faces.