| tart --> | | | | psychologically up to the same speed as my wife, she |
| When I was told I was going to be a dad my | | | | was always nine months ahead of me! |
| experiences up to that point were controllable, but life | | | | The bag was ready to go for weeks and had all the |
| as we know it was soon to change. We can't always | | | | requirements - baby nappies, baby vests and usual |
| control it even though we want to, but baby comes | | | | paraphernalia were present that I would become |
| first. Being a parent is always spoken about from the | | | | familiar with over the next few months. I completely |
| mother's point of view, but men have another | | | | forgot that Liz myself and a child were going to come |
| experience in their parallel path. | | | | home in a few days, the figure three never entered |
| When our first child Zac came along it was a real eye | | | | my head. It is a while ago now, ten years to be exact |
| opener. Our lives were turned on their heads. We did | | | | and I still seem to be playing catch up. I never seem to |
| not know what was what for at least eight weeks. | | | | be on the same page with the current set of guidelines |
| Gradually a pattern emerged and it became our daily | | | | we are working with. Parenting is constantly changing. |
| routine and it has metamorphosed itself since. Now | | | | We only put a guideline in place that we work to and it |
| with two children our life feels more complete. It is a | | | | has to be changed within a week as the dynamics of |
| real way of life now and times like Christmas and | | | | the situation are so diverse that something will affect |
| summer holidays have been transformed into | | | | the original ruling. |
| something I would have dreaded years ago. But if I | | | | Things have changed so much we can't even turn to |
| could go back to the start would I do anything | | | | our parents as the world in which they lived in does |
| different? I could say I would but if put in that place I | | | | not exist anymore. Media today feed us with constant |
| would be naive as I was when I just became a parent | | | | images, so much information is being streamed to us |
| originally. Hospital was a long way away, so I had to | | | | that we cant sensor it in our homes. It all still boils down |
| drive calmly to ensure Mum to be and I would get | | | | to a common factor that if we have the opportunity to |
| there in one piece. When we were on our way in, | | | | remain at home and be focused on our child's |
| even though I was told our baby was due... I was not | | | | upbringing we can maintain the status quo. |