Being young and being a father can be scary…
In fact, being a father, in general, can be scary.
But I get it…
When you’re in your teens, getting the washing machine to work might be a struggle, let alone trying to care for a baby.
Not to mention if you have never actually been around children for an extended period of time before i.e. younger sisters, nieces or goddaughters.
And as we get older, typically there comes a certain level of confidence that you can work things out as you go…
But when you’re in your teens or 20’s you might not have that yet.
However not all is lost young warrior…
Don’t let the idea of inexperience in life automatically translating into inexperience in fatherhood.
Because the fact is that every father is inexperienced the first time around…
There is no manual
There is no step-by-step guide
There is only experience
And the truth is this:
It’s all about constant learning.
Whether you are 16 or 36, being a father for the first time is still new.
The question is: Are you going to rise to the new learning opportunities or sit back and let them get you down?
Are you having feelings of helplessness because you aren’t engaging enough in your child’s life?
Or are you involved, asking questions and being there?
Here are a few tips to learning the Bo$$ way.
Be involved.
Change a nappy. Give them a feed. Read them a book and tuck them in before bed.
There is heaps that you can do, its just about being proactive.
If there is anything that you’re not sure about, then as long as its not going to endanger them,
Just give it a shot!
I’ve learnt heaps from trial and error in doing new things.
Talk to them.
If they are old enough to talk then do it!
Ask them what they think of things. What is their opinion?
Create a dialogue between them and get to know them even better.
Ask the people close to you for information/tips
Ask Mum, Dad, Uncles, Aunts or Grand parents.
All will have a different view and will probably have specific things that helped them along the way.
Asking for many perspectives will help you understand your own method of parenting better.
None are necessarily right or wrong but just different, and it will be a case of finding your style somewhere in between.
It’s really about being ok with the journey of being a father.
Lord, don’t feel like you have to know it all as soon as that little head pops out.
What is one thing that you struggled with when you first became a father?