5 Things Series: 5 Things I’ve Learned So Far

5 Things is a new content series where Playground Dad contributors share 5 tips with new and expectant fathers.

My name is James. I’m a SAHD of two girls aged 2 1/2 and 1.

#1- Patience, Patience, Patience.
Having a new born is the easy bit. Eat. Sleep Poop. But once thats over you have to stay on your toes and stay calm.

#2 – Enjoy the little things.
The looks, the times they hold your finger, or fall asleep in your arms. That’s the pest part for me.

#3 – Kids are tough.
Everyone told me to be gentle and careful, and you should be. It may just be my kids but we played the throw me in the air and catch me me game at 5 months, and my one year old loves being tossed on the couch. If they bruise they heal the next day. If I bruise i heal next month.

#4 – Have fun.
No matter how stressed I get or how tired I am from it all, I always try and have fun. Long hard day? Just play some music and do a silly dance. Or make a fort in the living room, or turn the kiddy pool in to a ball pit. Always make time to be silly with them.

#5 – Don’t take my advice.
Or anyone else’s. Loads of people will tell you things, things based on their experience. Your experience will be deferent than mine. Just do what works for you and your family. If you do take my advice let me know though, that way I can tell people

If you’re a dad that would like to share your 5 things with new and expectant dads, become a Playground Dad contributor.

Image Credit: Jonny Hunter

About James Langston

You may also like...

  • Randy James

    “If they bruise they heal the next day. If I bruise i heal next month.”
    Brilliant! So true. I was always so afraid that I would break my kids and I used to handle them so carefully. Now it’s nothing to toss them in the air or bounce them on the bed. Sure, I’m still careful, but they are tough and resilient. I break easier than they do!
    Good post.

  • http://twitter.com/ABetterGuy A Better Guy

    Kids are really tough! Your advice here is awesome. I handled our first daughter like she was a hand grenade for the first few months. I was scared to death but slowly but surely realized just how resilient she is. She’s 2 1/2 now and loves full blown wrestling matches with Dad.

    As for the advice section, couldn’t agree more. It’s another example of the internet being the best thing and the worst thing all at the same time. It’s so easy to jump on to search your kids latest behavior or health thing and get sucked into the vortex of conflicting and sometimes ridiculous advice. While some advice is very helpful like your list here, most of our best learning occurs in paying attention and engaging with the little ones and enjoying the process.

    Thanks for the post!

  • http://twitter.com/Momma_Brains mommabrains

    you are right, kids are tough. That doesn’t make it any easier as a mom, watching your kid getting thrown in the air by a man who you recently saw trip over his own feet. Love the dads, though. You sure bring the fun.

  • http://twitter.com/samwcook Sam Cook

    My wife gets so worried about every stumble– but my 18 month old is tough.