Issue:

New Dads

Page:

2

Abstract

Welcome to fatherhood

Keywords:

Fathers, babies

Babies are great! There’s nothing like this cuddly, soft little mass of coos (and poohs) to bring up that warm, fuzzy feeling inside. If there are people who don’t look forward to having a baby, I honestly can’t understand them. Whatever challenges one faces in life, however inconvenient the time may be to have a baby - here is a little human being, the greatest wonder on earth. You’ve made it. It’s half you. Isn’t that amazing?

Fathers are such a diverse bunch these days that it's hard to write an editorial that will please you all. Most of you will go back to work very soon and perhaps wonder why. Others will in a few months or weeks spend a lot of time with baby alone during those times when mum's out working. And yet others do not live together with mum and might face the huge challenge of getting to see their baby in the first place. Some of those dads, however, will be sole parents right from day one - or soon enough.

That's New Zealand in the 2000s. And more and more authors and "experts" are chasing the question of what kind of dad should modern man be? There is a simple answer to this: himself. Only you can be the dad you need to be. Some guys are of the outgoing type, manhandling their kids as though they are training for a sports event, while others seem to turn from solid to liquid state on the simple touch of baby’s skin. Some guys believe the best they can do is give the child a financially secure future, others believe kids need the nurturing side of a dad. The truth is: if you’ve got ants in your pants and you have the potential to earn megabucks in minutes, don’t even try to become a househubbie. Likewise, if this event of the birth of your baby is what you’ve been waiting for for your entire life and you can’t wait to rock him to sleep or sing songs to him, quit your paid job NOW. Your baby needs you, the way you are. Don’t let anyone tell you anything else! As long as you are trying to do the best for your offspring there's no need to feel guilty about being like this or not being like that. There's no longer any one recipe for manhood or fatherhood that fits all.

This dad here has been an at-home dad, and at times not necessarily voluntary. Funnily enough, at a time when I thought I am doing something very different from most other men, I felt more connected to them than ever before. What unites all men is the deep, very special, and very unique love they have for their children. Being involved with their kids comes naturally to both mums and dads. But dads as well as mums do need a little appreciation for the tough job that is fatherhood. And too many haven't got a clue just how important they really are.

We hope with this magazine we can contribute to your enjoying and exploring a new chapter in the book that is your life. It's our first try, so be gentle on us, but do let us know what you think.

Lean back and enjoy the ride!


Harald Breiding-Buss,