Today, I happened to open my big mouth about my late night adventures in baby-sitting.
Let me explain - Ava Maria is a night owl. She sleeps a large part of the day and is awake for a large part of the night. At 12 days old, this is very normal and okay. My wife, her only source of food, is thereby required to stay up most of the night too. This has been tough for her...and we reached a stress threshold more than once so far.
To solve, we've worked out what seems to be a pretty good plan. She stays up late and feeds and tends to the baby until about 3 or 4am. Then I get up, change the baby and take her downstairs(to rock her, talk to her and/or watch TV) for an hour or 2...while Cara gets some much needed sleep. Around 5am or so, I head back upstairs, swaddle Ava, put her to bed and catch about 2 more hours of sleep before making my way into work. Its been working. ..and we've been getting a decent amount of sleep every night!!
Anyway, as I described our success story to some older guys at work it became apparent that not all dads are Dads of the Future. One of the guys went as far to say that since my wife is not working, I should be sleeping and she should be caring for the baby all night...and couldn't believe that I didn't know this.
Au Contraire Mon Frere!! Dads of the Future are a part of the game. We are involved. Caring for our kids is good thing...not "babysitting." I actually enjoy the time with Ava. I talk to her, make up songs, watch recorded episodes of Weeds and catch up on the STL Cardinals bid for first place.
Either way, I'm just trying to be a good husband and dad. My wife is an amazing person and trying to help her get a few extra hours of sleep does not make me a "pussy." Dads of the Future must break the mold. This is a time of car seats for 2 year olds, biodegradable diapers, alternative immunization schedules and low infant mortality. Its also a time of high divorce rates, highly depressed and anxious kids and young-adults who have no idea what a good marriage looks like. Its a time that requires parenting as a team to navigate through it all.
Personally, I think we have a pretty good team in place. I'd bet on us...to turn out a pretty neat young person. At least that's the goal.
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2 comments:
Right on! I'm also married to an evolved man who understood that I was 'working' all day, taking care of our sweet little butter, and therefore needed some sleep too. Yay for Dads of the Future!
Pat, they really broke the mold with you. You sound like you are an amazing husband and father. Cara and little Ava are so lucky to have you!
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