Notes on being a new parent
You will find your priorities rearranged upon delivery of your new ‘bundle of joy,’ with taking care of your kid’s every need in the top spot. Your own sleeping and eating will fall in rank somewhere below washing bottles, doing laundry and buying groceries. ‘Buying groceries’ will come to mean diapers, baby wipes, infant formula, your caffeinated drink of choice and anything else you can grab for a quick snack. The most complicated thing you’ll have time to make is spaghetti and/or a high ball cocktail. Let take-out food become your friend, but avoid fast food (except as a guilty-treat). Don’t worry about that weight you gained during the pregnancy (dads included); you’ll use-up those ‘reserves’ quickly by staying up all night and not eating. That nervous energy you may feel is part total fear of doing something wrong, part hunger, part sleep-deprivation, and part depression at the loss of your ability to do whatever you darn well please for the forseeable future. If it gets too bad, get some samples of an anti-depressant from your doctor (that’s what they’re for). Also, invest in a good multi-vitamin and take it every day. If you can, use your saved-up vacation days to be around the house for as long as possible the first month (there’s no such thing as ‘maternity leave’ anymore, it seems). Get a loan to pay-off your credit cards and consolidate your debt; you’ll need the extra money in your monthly budget for child care. Forget buying that next-big-thing and spend it on the coolest stroller you can find that’s worth every penny. Speaking of child care, you should start calling around shortly after you find out you’re expecting, as most waiting lists are nine to twelve months out. Otherwise, you’ll be left on the ‘wanting list’ and have to make a mad scramble to find somewhere that’s licensed and trustworthy. Take lots of pictures of your new baby, because in a few short months you’ll never believe he or she used to be so tiny (or quiet). Plus, friends and family can keep up on how the baby is growing (and send gifts). Plan for someone to watch the baby at least once a week so you and your spouse can go out to lunch or have dinner and a movie; you will need it. Lastly, remember The Golden Rule on the Ins and Outs of a newborn baby: Food goes in, poop comes out. :)
You will find your priorities rearranged upon delivery of your new ‘bundle of joy,’ with taking care of your kid’s every need in the top spot. Your own sleeping and eating will fall in rank somewhere below washing bottles, doing laundry and buying groceries. ‘Buying groceries’ will come to mean diapers, baby wipes, infant formula, your caffeinated drink of choice and anything else you can grab for a quick snack. The most complicated thing you’ll have time to make is spaghetti and/or a high ball cocktail. Let take-out food become your friend, but avoid fast food (except as a guilty-treat). Don’t worry about that weight you gained during the pregnancy (dads included); you’ll use-up those ‘reserves’ quickly by staying up all night and not eating. That nervous energy you may feel is part total fear of doing something wrong, part hunger, part sleep-deprivation, and part depression at the loss of your ability to do whatever you darn well please for the forseeable future. If it gets too bad, get some samples of an anti-depressant from your doctor (that’s what they’re for). Also, invest in a good multi-vitamin and take it every day. If you can, use your saved-up vacation days to be around the house for as long as possible the first month (there’s no such thing as ‘maternity leave’ anymore, it seems). Get a loan to pay-off your credit cards and consolidate your debt; you’ll need the extra money in your monthly budget for child care. Forget buying that next-big-thing and spend it on the coolest stroller you can find that’s worth every penny. Speaking of child care, you should start calling around shortly after you find out you’re expecting, as most waiting lists are nine to twelve months out. Otherwise, you’ll be left on the ‘wanting list’ and have to make a mad scramble to find somewhere that’s licensed and trustworthy. Take lots of pictures of your new baby, because in a few short months you’ll never believe he or she used to be so tiny (or quiet). Plus, friends and family can keep up on how the baby is growing (and send gifts). Plan for someone to watch the baby at least once a week so you and your spouse can go out to lunch or have dinner and a movie; you will need it. Lastly, remember The Golden Rule on the Ins and Outs of a newborn baby: Food goes in, poop comes out. :)