for all of the parents out there....

mfc2006

we're going to start a family...soon. (in the next year or so)

not looking for sex advice (at all). we're good there. :thumbup:

we're looking for planning tips....what things came up that you did not expect at all? yeah, we're clueless hippies...but who cares?

any thoughts/advice would be appreciated...
we've been wanting to start a family for awhile...so we're excited. just trying to get a feel of what we should be doing to prepare. i'm going to be a Dad soon & i can not wait!

thanky,
Matt

GivenToLukinKP

mfc2006 wrote:

we're going to start a family...soon. (in the next year or so)

not looking for sex advice (at all). we're good there. :thumbup:

we're looking for planning tips....what things came up that you did not expect at all? yeah, we're clueless hippies...but who cares?

any thoughts/advice would be appreciated...
we've been wanting to start a family for awhile...so we're excited. just trying to get a feel of what we should be doing to prepare. i'm going to be a Dad soon & i can not wait!

thanky,
Matt

cutest post of the night
clueless hippies???
Im not a parent, so I have little to offer but I just want to wish you and your wifey good luck. Youll make an excellent daddy :thumbup:

catefrances

mfc2006 wrote:

...
....what things came up that you did not expect at all? ...

my first 2 children.



just do it. dont overthink it. oh and remember kids are portable and very resilient. theyre tougher than they look.

conman

i don't have kids but be prepared to be broke..... i hear kids are expensive

thefixer9

I can make you son/Daughter a nice quiet playlist, I play it sometimes for the little kid I babysit!

Enkidu

It's pretty swell. Really. You get to re-see all this stuff again through their eyes. Like the first time you take your kids to the ocean and they see waves. The first time they taste a chocolate milkshake. Watching "Wizard of Oz" together.

You get the idea.

And yes, it's expensive. And sometimes you want to kill them. (I have two.) But it's a wonderful, always surprising, never boring journey. You're going to have a great time.

conman

Enkidu wrote:

And sometimes you want to kill them.

you must have been talking to my parents :P

guitar59

We did not expect our kids to have such poor taste in music. Took 13 years for this to fully manifest itself. But really kids are great!

dimitrispearljam

all will be great Matt!!!!! :thumbup:

pjfan31

Good luck...

Kids are great....

theserialthrilla

ive got three boys.


all i would say is dont listen to anyone..do what you thinks right

your normally be correct.


and then you have noone else to blame . :P especially me

MrMerkinball

I have 3 daughters, and really remember being clueless when this whole adventure started.

Here are a couple of thoughts and I have broken it down in 3 ways from the Dad's perspective:

Pregnancy
1. For the next nine months, you focus entirely on taking care of your wife.
2. I started off by being too nice and annoying her. She was throwing up a lot and I was trying to be supportive, but in retorspect, I was probably a little over the top. I changed up my tactic and put together a care package for her of foods she could eat (crackers, dry cereal, popcorn etc) and I got her some magazines and some movies to watch. I then said, If you need me, I will be in the other room...It worked

New Born
1. I found the first 3 months (of each kid's life) REALLY hard. They don't sleep properly, you and your wife will be exhausted and all of the little things you used to take for granted (as simple as taking a shower) have to be strategically planned. It gets better...but I did not enjoy those days.
2. Feeding the baby is stressful too. Sometimes the breastfeeding doesn't work properly, which will make your wife really emotional and your baby will be grumpy, and there is NOTHING you can do. If it's a bottle, it's a little easier, but much more expensive.
3. The newborns go through 12-18 diapers a day. Do the math on that one my friend!!!

Toddler
1. If you think your life has changed, wait till that little kid becomes mobile. Holy shit. Sun up to sun down you are chasing that little kids around the house. A playpen is essential here.
2. That said, for me thi sis much more fun and it's the point where daddy becomes more involved and important.

JaneNY

Breastfeed and use cloth diapers. You'll save thousands! I'm serious - we did it, and also lived frugally, and paid off our house in 3 years. Buy kid clothes from thrift shops and yard sales - a baby doesn't care. Before they get fashion conscious and lecture you(at the age of 5 mind you) about kitten heels is the time to save money on clothing them. She is now 17 and wants Steve Madden boots, so save as much money as you can while they're little. Go to public health for any immunizations - it was $5 per visit. Just a few thoughts off the top of my head.

theserialthrilla

MrMerkinball wrote:

I have 3 daughters, and really remember being clueless when this whole adventure started.

theserialthrilla wrote:

ive got three boys.

ok party at your house then

rick1zoo2

some great advice in these posts. I have three boys, aged 16, 15, 11. All I can say is there is no one right way to do anything. Parenting is at the same time the most bewildering, humbling, thankless, yet rewarding experience. Some times you think you are totally screwing up these kids lives and other times they just simply amaze you with the things they do.

Just roll with the tough times, and enjoy the good times.


Just think - our parents didn't screw us up (much)

pandora

children understand far more than they ever communicate
this at any age.

They are tiny sponges that grow into adults with very similar habits to their parents.

Don't do what you don't want them to do as adults,
be a good example
give them all that they need and some of what they want

I remember being worried as a young mother if I was doing a good job

my big sister, who has since left this world, her words stayed

"You are great people, you and JB, don't worry you will have great children"

moral ...
instill in your children what you think is important in this world then relax and enjoy the ride!
It is a grand ride.... a miracle!

Black Diamond

They willl try to be like you without listening to you ....

Figure out what you and your wife's most core values and try to have them understand.

Otherwise they will do their own thing and not be like either of you... that's the fun part.

BTW, I may be having a sale on my middle one... If interested please let me know...

EmBleve

I can't offer advice because I don't have kids, but congratulations on the decision for the journey! Best wishes.

redrock

As you are at your 'planning' stage, take the opportunity to quit with nasty habits you may have (eg smoking), eat a super healthy diet (give those lil' sperm strength and vitality!) don't stress out and enjoy the time 'trying'.

Once the little one is there, priorities need to be revised (sounds obvious but you would be surprised!), one doesn't have to be showered and dressed with face put on by 8am, one's house doesn't have to be all that tidy all the time and if one is too tired to wash the evening meal dishes that evening, do it the next day! Enjoy the kid(s) and remember to have time for yourself and your partner.

Sleep/rest/relax when the little one sleeps and really..... just give your love and go with the flow!

redrock

Black Diamond wrote:

BTW, I may be having a sale on my middle one... If interested please let me know...

Does it have to be a sale or would you accept a swap?

Black Diamond

redrock wrote:

Black Diamond wrote:

BTW, I may be having a sale on my middle one... If interested please let me know...

Does it have to be a sale or would you accept a swap?

:think:

Depends... Age?, Police Record?, Does there head spin around?