Nothing changes you like becoming a parent. As you embark on the adventure of fatherhood, know that you're not alone in this journey. We rounded up 13 of our most popular stories surrounding fatherhood, ranging from insightful personal stories to tried-and-true parenting advice.
We asked our community of parents to find out what men found most intimidating before they became dads for the first time.
“My son’s a toddler now, and I’ve been terrified since day one. That I may not live up to expectations, that something could go wrong, that even in the best case scenario I cannot possibly be there for my boy forever. All of that [pales in comparison] to the joy, purpose and fulfillment that my little boy has brought into my life, though. This is a good type of fear, because it’s one borne not of self-interest, but of love. It’s an experience unlike any other.”
Today’s dads are clueless, incompetent, emotionless buffoons who don’t know their asses from their elbows when it comes to childcare, right? Wrong. Dead wrong. The overwhelming majority of us (yes, I said the overwhelming majority) are smart, loving, and just plain awesome men who put our families first. Don’t believe me? Check out this compilation of photos taken directly from the Daddy Doin’ Work Instagram feed. Contrary to what you’ll find in mainstream media, this diverse group of dads perfectly illustrates what life is really like for fathers all over the world.
Enjoy.
Mom bloggers are a remarkably powerful force in the internet ecosystem and an empowering resource for new mothers, so it is no wonder dad bloggers want in, too. Everywhere you look, dads have joined the conversation by sharing personal stories, venting about diaper duty, dispensing advice on toddler tantrums and admitting that they don’t always have the answers — and that’s OK!
Whether you’re looking for parenting inspiration or answers to the puzzling aspects of fatherhood, these 10 dad blogs should be plenty helpful in figuring it all out.
Greeting card artist and dad of two Brian Gordon wanted to create a comic that was a bit more personal than usual.
“I thought I had figured out what kids were like and how to parent after the first one, but my daughter came along and proved I had no idea what I was doing.” So, in 2013, Fowl Language Comics, a funny, sweet, often expletive-filled look at parenting, was born.
Check out 12 of his awesome comics for a reminder that we’re all in this together.
She wants to be loved. More than she wants the stuff you can buy her or the things you can teach her, she wants you to love her. No one else on Earth can assume your role as daddy. Your daughter will let you down, make huge mistakes, and maybe even turn her back to you for a season, but don’t ever let her doubt your love for her. Look her in the eye and tell her you love her. Lots.
Fatherhood is a complex and wonderful experience — and it can also be the fodder for some laugh-out-loud observations.
So we’d like to tip our hats to all the funny dads out there whose tweets are undeniably true. If you’re unfamiliar with what being a dad is like, these hilarious tweets say it all.
"There will be times, times in the middle of the night, while holding your crying child, that you will think I CAN’T DO THIS!
Just remember: YOU CAN DO THIS. And you know what, you can do this better than anything you have ever done before. Be proud, be loving — BE DAD!”
![“[This is] my husband holding our third child right after we had him. He immediately became overwhelmed with joy and love, like he did with our first two," says Elisa Campos Hopkins.](https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/572a21e013000029003807ca.jpeg?ops=scalefit_720_noupscale&format=webp)
We asked the dads of the HuffPost Parents Facebook community to send us their first photos with their babies and share exactly what thoughts were going through their heads at that moment.
Here are 31 dads’ memories from that incredible time.
Don’t point out how big she’s getting.
My Boston sports habit notwithstanding, I’m a fairly logical person. I knew MJ was pregnant and pregnant women gain weight. That’s why I thought absolutely nothing of pointing out my wife’s really cute swollen belly. In my mind, it was just nature progressing and running its course, and there was nothing more beautiful. But after the first two or three times I said it, she snapped on me. “STOP TELLING ME I’M FAT! I KNOW I’M FAT! I DON’T NEED YOU POINTING IT OUT!!” It didn’t matter that in my eyes she had never looked more beautiful, or that she was SUPPOSED to be gaining weight.
Nothing can prepare you for fatherhood, so it’s best to respond in the moment.
I never experienced fatherhood, so nothing anyone could say and nothing I could compare it to could get me ready, so to me, there was no need to worry about it. That would be wasted energy. Just respond to the moment and take things as they come.
Comparing themselves to other parents.
It’s so easy to look at other parents and beat yourself up. Yes, some moms look as lithe as a teenager on their way home from the hospital. Some parents never seem to lose their cool, even when cleaning baby vomit out of their hair. Others may seem ridiculously organized and not the least bit stressed by the demands of taking care of a baby. It’s not that these people are phonies, it’s that you’re not seeing the whole truth.
Love his mother. He will learn to love like you love, and hate like you hate. So choose love for both of you. Devote yourself to it. Love with your whole heart and express that love each and every day. Then, someday down the road, you will see the way he loves his own wife, and know that you played a part in that.
13. 20 Things Every Parent Should Hear
You are a hero for your kids. You are. You’re a go-the-distance, fight-the-dragon, face-the-challenges hero for your kids. Taking a beating makes that more true. Not less.
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Before You Go
