April 20th.
9 months ago.
11 a.m.
I stepped out of the postpartum care center… terrified… not sure what to expect.
It was a hot, sunny Saturday. I placed the baby into the stroller, secured her, and walked home with my wife.
“That was easy,” I whispered with my fingers crossed.
😭🍼💩😭💩😴😭🍼😭💩
I pulled out my phone…
2 p.m.
*emotional damaged*
Fast forward to this morning…
My wife had left for work.
I am all by myself.
7:50 am… “Wahhh”… the baby woke up… I stripped off her pajamas… cuddled her in my left arm… headed to the bathroom… washed her bottom… changed diaper… applied lotion… cleaned her stuffy nose… “WAHHAHAHAHA”… battled with a little monster who HATED people touching her nose… dressed her up… set up her stroller… made sure I had all her stuff… *sniff-sniff*… *sigh*… returned to the bathroom… stripped her down again… washed off the 💩… got her ready again… wiped off all the snivel and saliva… dropped her off at child care… pulled out my phone… 8:30 am.
Nailed it.
No, I don’t think I’m a great dad.
(I don’t “like” children nearly enough to become a good dad)
But in the past 9 months…
I’ve put in the reps.
I’ve changed diapers 6 to 7 times every day…
I’ve washed off more poo than I want to admit…
And I’ve learned to ignore the crying while I do what needs to be done.
A living proof that –
You don’t need more “mindset,” just more reps.
(or you invest in someone to do the reps for you)
My TEDx pep talk: “A day in my life as an emotionally damaged dad”.
Talk soon,
– WYH