Having a kid is one of the biggest responsibilities of your life. For this reason, it is hardly surprising that the majority of the men believe that they are not prepared for fatherhood. However, that does not imply that you will not be able to do it. That also does not mean that you will be able to excel at it.
When to know you are ready to be a dad
It is for sure that friends and colleagues can offer you advice; but how to know that you are prepared to become a dad? Here, we have mentioned several interesting signs that will help you to know that you can become a father.
You are doing it for the correct reasons
Although there are plenty of reasons to become a father, you need to make certain that you are doing it for the proper reasons. Firstly, you can go for a baby if it is the proper time for you and the proper choice for you.
While nothing is wrong in making your wife pregnant at the identical time as your buddies, you must not try to become a father since your buddies are becoming so.
You are responsible and can look after yourself
One of the biggest responsibilities of your life will be to become a parent. It is essential to take care of the physical health of the kid, his education, emotional well-being, and so on.
If it is a fact that you are not able to look after yourself then you might not be prepared to take care of another being. However, if you are able to manage your own schedule and are on top of things, then probably you are prepared to become a dad.
You are prepared emotionally
You have to go through ups and downs during your journey of nurturing a kid. One moment your kid might be cuddling against you, and the other moment he might have a major meltdown.
This can be magnified during the teenage years of your children. Once your child becomes hurt, parents can have a really tough time trying to cool them down. It is essential for a father to remain strong when things become tough. Make certain that you are prepared emotionally before planning to become a father.
You are stable financially
It can prove to be quite costly to have a baby. You will need to buy a lot of items once your kid finally arrives including a crib, clothes, diapers, and so forth. Moreover, you need to change their wardrobes on a regular basis as they become older.
As per a recent survey, the average cost of nurturing a kid in the US these days is around $234 (and that excludes the expenses of the college). For this reason, you need to make certain that you are economically stable before having the infant.
Your support system is quite strong
There is a saying that an entire village is required for raising a child. A huge difference can be made by a support system including your friends, family members, or even hired assistance.
In case you are staying away from your family or you are not able to hire a nanny, you should check our several regional parenting groups for connecting with other households in the locality. In case you need some advice or a babysitter, your life can become much easier by having individuals who want to assist you.
You are prepared for sleep deprivation
It is a fact that parents never exaggerate when they assert that their kids never go to sleep. Even though the little ones do sleep from time to time, their slumber is quite an inconvenience and sporadic for an adult to deal with.
In case you are having a baby, it is possible that you are going to suffer from sleep deprivation from time to time that you might not have even imagined before. Therefore, you need to be prepared for this before becoming a father.
You are ready to handle some undesirable moments
It is a fact that one has many happy memories after becoming a dad. However, it likewise comes with several pesky issues and harrowing hardships. One needs to clean up untidy diapers, tame the tantrums of the toddlers, manage a moody baby, and so forth. As a result, you ought to be prepared to handle these not-so-nice aspects of parenting.
You are prepared to help your kid with his homework
It is the duty of every father to help his kids in education. This includes helping them to learn about the alphabet, solving some simple math problems, reciting some rhymes along with them, and so forth. For this, you might be required to sacrifice seeing your favorite TV program as well.
You are able to ignore any unsolicited advice
It is a fact that every parent receives unsolicited advice every now and then. These unwanted suggestions will be coming to you from every direction including your neighbor and your close relatives. Your aunt might warn you against holding the toddler a bit too much, and so on.
Even the nonparents will inform you regarding things they would have done if they were parents themselves. However, it is imperative for you to listen to your partner and your physician whom you will be able to trust. You must ignore all others along with their suggestions.
The next 18 years can be dedicated by you to somebody else
You are going to make a long-term commitment while deciding to have a baby. You will raise the kid from childhood for 18 years through the adolescent period. They might also depend on you once they become an adult. Therefore, it is a role you should never leave behind.
You have performed the pet test
Although it happens to be an old method, it is nevertheless tried and true. Prior to thinking of having a baby, you can try nurturing a pet. You may begin with a goldfish. In case you are able to keep it alive, you can adopt a dog or a cat.
You need to be accountable for the animal’s meals, health care, supervision, as well as happiness. If you succeed in doing so, then it might imply that you are well-prepared to take care of your human baby as well.
Both of you are sure to have a kid
In case you have taken into consideration all the aspects that are needed to raise an infant, and you feel sanguine that you will be able to do it then it is definitely awesome. However, it is essential to make certain that your partner is likewise ready to have a baby.
In case she is hesitant or uncertain in some manner, then make it a point to talk things together and maybe wait for some time more.
You are prepared for the unexpected
Even though you ought to prepare yourself for having the kid in the best possible way, you likewise need to be prepared for the unexpected. Anything might happen once you have kids. Life happens to be unpredictable and this will become more once a member arrives in your family.
This is something that will make your life as a parent totally worthwhile and also extremely daunting.
You have relatives and friends with kids
Your interpersonal relationships play a pivotal role in the overall well-being of yours. In fact, friendships are essential for your well-being and health just like family bonds in the long run.
After having a kid, you won’t be able to devote much time to your friends and you will have other priorities. For this reason, you ought to align yourself with relatives and friends who also have kids. You can get their advice after talking to them.
Apart from providing you with helpful advice and suggestions, they will enable you to work through your fears as well as misgivings regarding becoming a father. You can spend more time with their children which will help you to comprehend how you might feel while spending time with your own kids.
You are happier staying at home than going out for drinks with your buddies
If it is the fact that you like to stay at your own residence and watch movies on Netflix as compared to venturing out for enjoying a drink with your friends and colleagues, chances are that you like to settle down.
However, it is difficult to ascertain when this is going to happen in the life of a man. Once you get a kid, your commitments will be more and you will not like to come home wasted. Therefore, try to figure out whether you still like the party scene before becoming a father.
You are good with a toolbox
It is a fact that every man is not handy around the house; however, it definitely helps once you are having a kid. It is certain that your child is going to break your furniture and other objects in the house and it will be your responsibility to repair them on your own.
DIY projects happen to be a type of nesting behavior. Male nesting helps the males to feel attached to pregnancy. It is something physical the men can do for feeling involved and also preparing their role as the provider and protector.
You are prepared to make sacrifices for the sake of your partner and kid
Your life is primarily your own prior to having kids. You will be able to spend your excess money on buying fashionable items, take days off, and so forth. However, one needs to make a sacrifice to be a dad. You might have to work more for affording the baby supplies.
You will be able to slumber for about 4 hours on an average during the initial 6 months of the life of your child. Moreover, you will not be able to become intimate with your spouse since she will be under lots of stress. It is a thankless business being a father.
You have to work much more, and for this, none is going to appreciate you in the long run. On the contrary, your reward is going to giggle at you every morning and melt your heart to a soppy puddle.
Verdict
In case you are thinking whether you are prepared to become a dad, then remember that you are not the only person out there. Every potential dad asks himself this question, and you should not dwell on it. Instead, ask more proactive queries to yourself that will make you feel empowered and prepared for fatherhood.
In case every man would have waited until he believed that he was prepared to have a kid, there would be no kids. The fact is that you are not actually prepared until it really takes place. You need to find a means for adapting to the modifications taking place and make an effort to do your best.
Similar Posts:
- None Found
Mother of Two children. I’m a former teacher with a background in child development and a passion for Good parenting. I understand child development and know how to develop activities to help children learn and grow. Spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, and volunteering in my community.
