How we prepared for fatherhood
FOR many men, when they learn they are going to join the ranks of the millions of fathers worldwide, the reality of the enormous responsibility sets in. They start to think about whether or not they will be good fathers, and if they can provide for their children. They look forward to witnessing their children’s various milestones, and they wait anxiously for the day they will meet their bundle of joy.
These were all emotions felt by four dads we spoke to, and here they share how they prepared for that life milestone — fatherhood.
Aldridge, dad of a 21-year-old and a 16-year-old:
When I found out that I was going to be a father, I started saving because I feared that it was going to be very expensive to properly care for her. Being a father is an extremely special feeling. The reality that you’re actually holding a living, breathing part of yourself is just outside of anything you’ve experienced before. Simply heavenly! Loving them, doing stuff with them…Because of the way my dad loved me, I wanted to do that exact same thing.
LH, father of a 10-month-old:
When I found out last year that I was going to be a father, I was so excited, but nervous at the same time. I would think, ‘Am I going to be a good father?’ So what I did was talk to my older brother who has two sons. I would ask him for parenting advice and he told me to start saving for my son’s college, and that’s what I’m doing now. When I held him for the first time I felt so happy. I can’t even begin to explain that feeling.
Christopher G Dawkins, father of a 14-year-old:
When I just found out that I was going to be a father, I was in disbelief. It’s like everything just come and them throw a hard ball at you and you can’t duck. I immediately thought about the enormous responsibility that comes with being a father. I thought about the whole idea of buying diapers, formula, and spending nights at the hospital. I never had the option to ask a father for advice, I only had my child’s mother and my sister. She’s my younger sister, but she’s my backbone. The very first time I saw my daughter, that made me into who I am now because everything about me just changed. I got this feeling that I’ve never experienced before, but it was the greatest feeling ever when I held her for the first time.
Ashawni, father of a one-year-old:
Actually, I went and bought the pregnancy test… and I was the one who looked at the test before my babymother because she was so nervous. When me see the other stroke start to take colour, my heart leaped, That moment tears came to my eyes, because we were trying for a good while. As soon as I found out I started preparing. I started buying stuff. I went downtown and bought a chest of drawers because you know when baby come, she a guh need somewhere to put her clothes. I also turned to my bigger brother for advice, and him tell mi seh mi need fi stop all a di idleness because when the child come, certain things mi haffi put aside. Me did tell myself seh any day me become a father, me nah guh mek it stay like my childhood days, because me never have a father around.
LET US MEET YOUR BABY
Parents, introduce us to your little bundle of joy. Send us a photo and tell us baby’s birthdate, about their favourites, personality, and your wish for the future. E-mail allwoman@ jamaicaobserver.com.
