5 Things I Love About Fatherhood
By: Duncan Cook
Tags: Parenthood, Fartherhood, Love, Dads, Parenting

Being mindful of your child’s milestones makes you super parent, be fully present and more creative with your little, one as they look to you for inspiration.

My little girl turned 1, and as I was journaling today about some of the things that make ‘dadding’ awesome, especially now that she’s learning at exponential rates, I wanted to share what I love about the best job ever.

As an active dad, she comes to me for peak-a-boo, treats (don’t dob me in readers), shoulder ride squats (working on the dad booty), reading books and many more activities.

It was daunting at first, but now I feel more confident as a role model and father than I have even been. Here are some of the things about my journey of parenting and setting the bar high to gain status of ‘legendary dad’.

Copy Cat Dad Photo: Duncan Cook

1. Being Present

Now I don't want to sound too cliché, but every time been stopped out front of a coffee shop by some ladies saying “oh she’s beautiful, watch out they grow up fast” makes my ears ring just thinking about it. Guess what, its soo…. true, one second I have a baby that's so small you would think she was a playhouse doll, next thing she is playing cheeky mind games of dropping the water bottle off her high table to see if I’ll pick it up for the 100th time (and I always do).

People get caught up in work, lack of sleep, outsider parenting expectations, it can be very overwhelming. When all you need to do I just watch your little one grow and teach them the wonders of life, like blowing bubbles or whistling. Yet each day, week and month there are massive milestones that you can miss out on by not being as present as possible. The grabbing and placing everything in their mouth is a bit stressful, so stay on your toes.

Bonding with your child and spouse starts from day one, make sure you're the present parent that they need and the love will be reciprocated 100 times by acknowledging that calls, emails and texts can always wait.

2. Stepping up

The drive home from the hospital with another human is a surreal experience. We only lived about 5 minutes from the hospital too, even driving like I had a trunk full of 2000 year old china, we were back in 6 mins.

Then your strait into parenting, hourly feeds, diaper changes, cooking food, keeping thing clean, shopping, mums is pumping, work and not to mention getting some sleep where you can. You see your spouse as a super human and the more you get involved with support can really lay down the foundation for a incredible parenting journey as a dad.

At feeding times I felt a little useless. Mum is doing so much and even when your sleeping its like that Chuck Norris joke where “He’s doesn’t sleep….he waits” where trying to plan heating up bottles turned into a sixth sense skill that I seldom got right. They key thing here was that I was always trying and getting feedback from my partner, also don’t take anything personally. Emotions and hormones are high, the biggest and most amazing thing you can share happened.

Its a rollercoaster, a hugely rewarding one for those that immerse themselves, buckle-up and kick butt at dadding.

3. Play Time is the Best!

So, its a few months before you get to the all action play time, but now that Tilly is 12 months old, she's is a tiny bundle of fun and chatting. Hide & seek, crawling games, copy cat, war cries, food tasting, buddy work outs and pretending dad is Mt Everest are an absolute blast.

I’ve noticed that when she wants to play she likes to gravitate to me for the more strenuous all action play. It also gets me creative with other games to have fun and keep her engaged…..like right now she is just watching the washing machine and going ‘owwwwwhhhoowww” or just casually crawling up 2 flights of stairs and pretending I’m a Andre the Giant, what, inconceivable!

So rather than reaching for the phone and seeing what other people are doing, log your child’s milestones and funny experiences. Keeping a diary is fun, there's nothing wrong with posts on Instagram, just make sure there is balance. Your new little best friend just wants to show you everything that's new in the word, just try not to laugh too much when they spit food and make fart sounds. Did I teach her that???? Ooopps.

5. Super Parents

Just remember that its takes a lot of mental and physical energy to be a parent! Reward wins, such as spending quality time with your spouse and going the extra mile to make breakfast in bed or buy flowers on a weekend.

I know a few single parents and I think about all the things me and my wife have been through, they are super human and all the more reason to decompress when you can. If you know any always reach out to help or offer assistance, sometimes the gesture means the world to a parent on the go.

When your a little sleep deprived or stressed about something else you could be doing just take a deep breath and acknowledge that its the best, hardest and most importing ‘job’ you have. Keep that journal handy as its crazy to look back on some of the achievements happen in just 12 months of being a parent. My family has moved 5 times due to a lead and pluming issue and now have recently moved from the USA to Australia so that I could take a consulting role. Crazy right, we did it as a team!

Berry Picking Family time Photo: Duncan Cook

You're a superhero to your little one, embrace the responsibilities that come with it, plus every dad needs a super cute sidekick. I’m not going to don the cape right now, just an Aussie BBQ apron for dinner, veggie burgers are up girls.

See you on the next one. Cheers.

Dunc