Talk Hard!

This is going to be your holiday, every year, for as long as that child lives. If you are a typical first-time parent, you’re scared.  Further, you’re not sure what this is going to do to the rest of your life. It’s possible you will be an involved parent along with the child’s mother, but it’s also possible the child will be mainly raised by grandparents or someone else while both you and the mother grow up some more.

If you have the opportunity to get to know your child and you intend to be involved, I congratulate you on your interest and sense of responsibility. You aren’t alone. Consider that all around you there are hundreds of other first-time dads. Maybe they aren’t all the same age as you, but likely they’re just as scared or uncertain. Consider taking a class for fathers-to-be.  Talk to other men in your family and your community. Even if this pregnancy was an accident, don’t let shame about that keep you from reaching out to community resources to learn about what’s going to happen, to learn about babies and their development and how to be a part of it.

Good luck, all you young dads out there. Keep your chin up.  From what I hear, staying in this game is worth all the trouble.