As you might imagine, being a “veteran” dad, I get asked advice from first time and soon to be first time dads. I try really hard not to give advice unless asked. I remember being a first time father, and being deluged with advice that I didn’t ask for, didn’t want and, at least a good portion of the time seemed to make no sense at all. I even wrote a story about some of that so called advice called A Real Father Is Snot Afraid. As you can probably guess that story involves bodily fluids so if that makes you squeamish, you might want to skip it.
When I am asked, I will answer questions from new dads and soon to be dads, because despite all the wonderful advice that I was given without asking, there were still questions that I wanted answers to and I remember wondering where I could get some of this information.
Over the years I have given said advice, only to find out that my wife had advice for the same situation that was counter to what I had given. I would like to point out that I don’t think my advice was wrong, but my wife’s advice is usually better.
Here is where you get to participate.
If you are already a dad, I want you to give us your best bit of advice for new fathers, and then ask your wife about your advice, what she would change about your advice and or what bit of advice she would give to a new father and share it with us in the comments
To be fair I will start:
My advice – Get sleep while can.
My Wife’s advice – Be prepared to do the housework for about a month without complaining about it.
Remember: It’s not about you.
That is actually very good advice. As soon as they kids are born, even before they are, it stops being about you.