I want to share 5 things with you that no one told me would happen after I became a Dad. When I started to write the list I had a lot more than 5 but I want to share the 5 that really stick out for me.
1. Showering is so overrated
Before our bundle of joy was here I'd shower at least once a day, but since he arrived I seem to embrace my natural odors for a lot longer, now I'm not saying I stink but finding the time to jump in the showers seems to be next to impossible. I also think it's a case of not wanting to miss a special moment. After I've been at work for 10 hours the last thing I want to do is go and stand under the shower head for 10-20 minutes, I want to spend time with the little one. I suppose it's a good thing that at the age of 10 months he can't complain about the smell.
I learnt very quickly that wet wipes aren't just for babies, I never indulged in the festival life but by using a couple of wet wipes to clean from head to toe, I am there.
2. Feeding yourself
Even though Teddy is still on milk I find that feeding myself feels less important than what it was before. Things have improved over the last 10 months, but to begin with I found that I was more concerned about ensuring that his formula was mixed perfectly than even thinking about what I was going to have. I have always been the cook in our house and always liked to try new things, but that was pushed to one side, until we started to try "Hello Fresh" but then even the novelty of that wore off. I am really looking forward to the day when he can start to enjoy the same foods as us, perhaps I'll find my creative side again and knock-up a few new favourites. I think the lack of feeding myself falls down to time again, work, cuddle, sleep, repeat.
3. Takeaways becomes your best friend
I know this goes against everything I've just said about not eating, but takeaways seem to be the food of choice especially at 10pm, I think I've spoken to the lady who owns the local chinese more times than I have my own family in the past 10 months. As you can imagine with all this fast food being ordered and consumed the Dad bod/Father figure is coming along nicely. A few times i have also found myself ordering food through deliveroo for lunch and I always seems to pick the take away that has a £20 minimum order, so when it arrives I sit at table like Henry VIII, with loads to choose from and if it doesn't get finished at least I've got the rest for dinner and even breakfast. However, I will still blame lockdown for the 2 stones I've put on.
4. Walking up and down the stairs is enough exercise, right?
Back in 2019 I completed 4 x Wolf Runs and I felt the fittest I had ever felt, I haven't smoked for over 2 years and I was eating healthy etc. I was going out for 5km - 10km runs 3 times a week, going to the gym at 6 in the morning most weekdays, I felt great. When Lockdown 1.0 happened the gyms were closed so I was left to just running, then when Teddy arrived the runs stopped, I just couldn't find the time again and then when I did go I just felt like a fat bloke trying to run. Now with the gyms open I always find myself saying I will go tomorrow and then when tomorrow comes I put it off again and say I'll go again tomorrow. I'm pretty sure I'm not the first dad that this has affected I do think this will eventually change and I will start going again.
5. Immunity to caffeine
Pre Daddy days I could only drink one coffee, if I had more than one then I'd be awake all night, now that I'm the tired mess that I am I can have 3 cups of coffee before 8am and still feel incredibly sleepy. Nothing seems to shake the urge to nap. for the first time in years I thought I'd try an energy drink, thinking it was going to be a game changer, how wrong was I. With the lack of sleep I feel like I've aged about 15 years, gone from being a bright eyed bushy tailed whippersnapper to looking and feeling like a toad.
Now I know I've moaned about the weight gain, lack of sleep, showering and time, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I absolutely love being a Daddy, it really is the most amazing feel in the world.
Let me know if there's anything else you want to add to this list, Im sure theres hundreds of things that changed after having children, perhaps we can create a list and provide a list
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