4 ms·

I’m a relatively new dad so maybe the novelty just hasn’t worn off but I can’t understand fathers who don’t interact with their kids. I do it as much as I can,

• LeifCarrotson 8y ago
  I'm a new dad too, but my father is a 30-year veteran of fatherdom, with the benefit of some new experience as a grandfather thrown in. He and I recently had a heart-to-heart about this. He lamented that he didn't spend more time with me when I was an infant, a toddler, and a kid - he left that to my mother, due to a socially conditioned view of tasks like changing diapers as her responsibility. He still has an instinct to ask my mother whenever my son needs something, and I remind him "No, Dad, I can cook/bandage/clean/change that. We don't need to ask Grandma to take care of it. Why don't you cook up a few of your famous hamburgers and I'll get the boy ready for dinner?" - and he's still a bit hesitant to watch his grandson when grandma's not home. But through his hindsight, he agrees that (1) the novelty doesn't wear off, it changes way too fast, (2) do it as much as you can, because time is limited, and (3) it definitely is the best. Though you may get a reprise as a grandparent someday, which is possibly even better because you can send them home with new noisy toys after they've been spoiled and are on a sugar high.
  • pcmoney 8y ago
    Thanks for the input, I am very thankful we have less pressure in our culture to follow traditional father roles. Not that those fathers were uncaring but they were expected to be a bit more removed and constrained than we are today. One thing is for sure is that time definitely goes by twice as fast!