Lessons from a first-time father

I used to see fatherhood as a role that only becomes active when children have grown up a bit and not when they are little babies. This was due to the idea of fatherhood I encountered while growing up in a "mother-only raising the baby" community. I didn't grow up seeing fathers bathing their babies or changing their nappies. In our culture, it was strictly the mother's responsibility.

One thing that came easy for me due to temperament was my punctuality at every doctor’s appointment and at the birth of my sons. I was there holding my wife's hand even when I didn't know how to ease her pain and anxieties. Google was a friendly companion during this sojourn.

After the birth of my son, Arin, I didn't realise how much mental and physical strength it demanded from my wife. For some reason, I was expecting her to carry on with some of our shared responsibilities, like cooking and cleaning. But her body language clearly didn't reflect a willing partner!

One thing I always advise first-time fathers to do is to communicate with your wife and find out how she feels, what she is able to do or not do, and the state of her mental health. I think sometimes as men, even without trying, we underestimate what we can do, like cleaning, emotional support, nappy changing, cooking, etc. We all do have what it takes to complement our partners and step up in such times.

During the initial few weeks after our first son was born, I also had some doubts. I felt out of place because I didn't know if I was meeting my wife’s expectations as a father — and my son was getting more attention than I was. So I felt somewhat lost emotionally.

My claim to fame as a first-time father was my consistency in nappy changing and bathing of my son. Statistically, I changed more nappies and bathed my son more than my wife did. The reason I became a "nappy changing expert" was because I saw it as an opportunity to bond with my son and it also offered my wife some time away from the stress and crying that she was so familiar with. It got to a point where, whenever our son needed changing, she’d simply pass him over to me and I would do the rest.

Bathing my son gave me the opportunity to connect with him from a physiological and mental level — man to man. This has really helped in my relationship with my now five-year-old and my wife appreciates it even to this day.

So find something you can do alone with your child and also something that will give your wife some free time to rest or do something she enjoys doing.

I didn't do so well in the night feeding sessions. Since my wife decided to breastfeed until he was two years old, I didn't see the point in joining her as she woke up nightly for those feeds. My argument was, I don't have a breast, nor milk to offer him, so why have the two of us up? I did occasionally wake up just to offer her moral support!

One thing I have learned through my faith, and as a first-time father, was to filter whatever I was taught by other men, my culture and society. I had to decide what would work best for our new family unit. The best preparation is to commit to be present to support your wife and child.

Jack Baker said, “Every dad, if he takes time out of his busy life to reflect upon his fatherhood, can learn ways to become an even better dad.” I believe the experiences of the first-time father would not only make you a better dad but a better husband if we as fathers can get it right. Try it.