Making Your Pregnant Wife's Day a Little Easier by Helping Out

Yes, there are definite changes about to occur in your life that begin the very day your wife announced that you are going to be a father. To start, your household duties will increase. There will be things to be done that she will, now, unable to do. I suggest you make those honey-do’s, things you decide upon. Might as well, because you’ll have to do them anyway. It’s a way to show your wife, other than with gifts and promises, that you are willing to share in these duties you took for granted for so long. Here are some off-the-cuff suggestions:

1. Try to throw your soiled socks, underwear, pants and dirty shirts inside, and not just near, the laundry basket. This also applies to shoes and other garments strewn around the house.


2. Liners do go into those trash cans and someone actually puts them there. If you’re unsure about which end opens, the end opposite the one with the tie goes on bottom. I realize you thought they just happened to popped magically in the can, but here's a news for you, buddy. She’s been doing it. Now, it’s your turn.


3. Wipe your shoes clean before coming in from the backyard. You’ve been tracking in dirt, cut grass and leaves for years and she’s been cleaning up after you. Now, it’s your turn to vacuum and you’ll see how much effort it takes to clean up this mess.


4. After your TV snacks, start picking up the ice cream bowls or empty popcorn bags from the floor of the den. As time passes and the baby inside grows, she will no longer be able to bend over and pick up after you with the ease in which she did before.


5. And what about cooking? Have you done much of that since your bachelor days? Now is the to time to get back into practice or learn because there will be times when she is not feeling well and if you don’t cook, you don’t eat! Buying it out would make it simple isn't it? But what about your dear wife. She needs a healthy meal and if she don't have the strenght to cook, you're going to have to cook for her.


6. Grocery shopping too — and alone! I mean you go alone, without your wife. No longer can you just walk alongside the cart she pushes and throw things inside or disappear for a few minutes only to return with an armful of goodies that you enjoy. No deal, this trip you make to the grocery is a chore, and chances are you won’t have time to shop for yourself.


7. There’s also yard work, much of what she did because she had leisure time. That leisure time is now all taken up by that new arrival. Even those insignificant chores she did like taking clothes to the laundry or making a telephone call for you or picking up your much-cherished TV guide and watering the plants. You’ll have to do those things by yourself now. So, go out there and pick up that water hose, those plants are thirsty!

There are much more! Believe me. But these are all that I could think of for now. I'll surely post some more for your guidance :)

What to Make of Yourself When You Get the News

God did favor men when He chose the woman to bear children. I know men agree. If not, after witnessing your wife’s ‘discomfort’ which is putting it rather mildly for sleepless nights, dragging around an additional 25 or more pounds that she feels she’ll never lose, not able to fit into any of the clothes she adores, and having 9 months feel like 9 decade you’ll agree. Then, they go into the final phase of actually having the baby… something someone not at all would volunteer to go through.

Let’s assume you two and your wife have been wanting to have a child for some time and finally you are blessed with the fact that your wife’s visit to the doctor’s office produces an affirmative answer, or the paper in the home pregnancy test turned blue, you finally got the news you've been waiting for! Most couples are elated, but it’s also a little bit frightening. No longer are you talking about or planning to have baby, you ARE going to have a baby! The very first smart thing to do, gentlemen, is to hug dear your wife tightly and kiss her lovingly. This wonderful woman, your soulmate, your love, is about to make you a father!

Spoil that mother-to-be. Make her feel prettier and more special than ever before. Take her out for a celebration of dinner and dancing. Have flowers sent to her while you’re away at work and bring home a gift. The present needn’t be expensive, just something that makes her know you are thinking of her, and that you’re as happy as she is about the baby.

It might take a week or two for the idea to sink in and sleeping becomes difficult. You can’t decide whether you’re truly happy or scared to death, but you’ll dream and in these dreams you make plans. Whatever plans you make during these first few weeks will mean little, simply because you don’t truly know what to expect. Try to think positive thoughts and plan on all the fun things you can do with your new baby, girl or boy.

Your conversation with almost everyone will change because you want to tell the world that you are going to be a father. You’ll even start looking at babies. Oh, you’ve looked before but this time, you will really look. And you’ll start asking questions of other fathers too and if not, the information will flow from those fathers without having to ask. Everyone will have an opinion and a suggestion.

Most first-time fathers want their first-born to be a boy because, for what ever reason, they want another living creature stalking the earth, just like them! And your wife wants a boy for you too, although she may prefer a girl.

Don’t be choosy. Take whatever it is and pray for mother and child are both healthy. Besides, you, adaddy-to-be, are the one who determines boy or girl; it truly is just the luck-of-the-draw, with you, dad, spinning the wheel. So whether it’s a bouncing baby boy or a cuddly sweet and precious little girl, it is your doing!

Why fathers need to know about baby care too?

It doesn't matter whether you’re a kid of 18 years old, or more on the mature zone like 28 or 30, if you’re a middle-aged dad, the process is still the same. The main point is, you are about to become a parent! Whether the little angel was planned or just happened, being a new father brings forth new responsibility and experiences.

Mothers already know much of these baby care stuff but new fathers need to learn some things too. Armed with new knowledge, facts and hints about how to care for your baby, you will find that being a new father is actually enjoyable. It will help avoid many sleepless nights, increase your degree of patience, aid you in readjusting your habits, and help you in learning more about your baby.

You should understand that there will be sleepless nights. And, there will be times when your baby just keep crying and crying, getting louder and louder each second, and everything you try fails. A test of patience? You bet! You feel the crying will drive you mad? It sure would. You might even cry along. You yell for your wife but she is away, working, shopping, anywhere, just unavailable to recue you at the moment. During that time, you just wish if only you'd taken a little time to read more about babies. So, don't make that mistake and start learning now. While it still in your wife's belly!

There will be times that you and your wife would like to do something together, but you can’t. Why? Because you can’t take the baby along with you for any number of reasons. Maybe your baby cries a lot, or doesn’t like noise, or can’t sit still, or can’t lie down too long. Perhaps you either can’t afford, or don’t want, or can’t find a sitter.

Plan on some monetary sacrifices too, because that new sports car you've been saving for or that vacation to backpack around Europe will have to wait. Why? Because you will need the money for added insurance payments, baby clothes, baby food, baby gadgets, baby furniture, supplements and medicines. Kids get every sickness other kids have. You’ll need money for ear drops, nose drops, eye drops, baby aspirin, baby powder, baby soap, and doctor bills. You’ll need tons of diapers, a load of baby bottles, a bucket of pacifiers and a pickup truck of wipe rags and a saving account for college. The list will be endless.

Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Why would anyone want kids if they’re so much trouble and the sacrifices...oh boy, don't get me started on the sacrifices. Is it all worth it? Well, just go and look into the face of your newborn and you tell me whether it’s worth it. Listen to their laugh or watch them smile. Pick them up and hold them next to your chest and feel them breathe. Grin at them while they eat or laugh when they burp or go into their room at night and just stand over them as they sleep. Marvel at all the seemingly inconsequential things they do that make you swell with pride. Then let me see if you're still asking yourself whether it's worth it.

There are pro and con when it comes to being a young father. Naturally you’d like to grow up with your kids, a big advantage. Sure you’ll enjoy playing ball and watching movies with them. Some say it’ll keep you young. But most will say that it will age you! But I wouldn’t call it that. In a more gentle word… It will make you more mature.

When I look at older fathers, say 45 and above, it does seem to add youth to them. They are more understanding, more tolerant. Having kids make them happier and have something to look forward to every single day. Personally, I think it is definitely a God’s blessing no matter at whatever age you become a father.