Father’s Day with The Parentboard: Celebrating the Journey of Fatherhood

Fatherhood is an extraordinary journey filled with joy, challenges, and immeasurable love. As we approach Father’s Day like mother's day, we want to honor and acknowledge the varied experiences of fathers on our Parentboard who graciously shared their perspectives and reflections. Dive into their insightful remarks and explore themes of preparation, challenges, rewards and personal growth.
 

Preparing for Parenthood 

“I attended as many appointments as possible with my partner, from midwife visits to scans. I also started the bonding process by feeling and talking to the baby, when the baby started moving. Talking to my own father and friends who already had children, gave me an idea of what to expect at the actual birth.” - Andrew, Lewis’s dad

“I was simply there for my wife. I took care of the practical issues, learned where to drive and park at the hospital, and kept in touch with the rest of the family when my wife went into labor.” - Tobias, Katinka’s dad

Challenges & Growth 

“Juggling work and home life was a challenge. I didn’t want to go back to work, I wanted to spend all my time with our new baby girl.” - Toby, Harper’s dad

“In the beginning I felt inadequate, because I couldn’t do very much when our baby needed food.” - Tobias, Katinka’s dad

“I quickly became less selfish and more attentive.” - Vlad, Rosie’s dad

Strengthening Bonds 

“I love my wife even more now. Seeing her grow and give birth to our daughter has made me appreciate her to a whole new level.” - Toby, Harper’s dad

“Everything changed from one day to another the day my child was born. I felt a huge responsibility to my new baby but also my wife, to just simply stay alive to be there for them. I felt more important than ever to these two people.” - Tobias, Katinka’s dad

“My partner and I value the time we have alone together more than we did before.” - Andrew, Lewis’s dad

Debunking  Myths 

“It’s not necessarily true that you lose yourself once you have kids. I actually feel like I found myself and grew more.” - Vlad, Rosie’s dad

“Having a baby doesn’t mean that you stop doing things. Yes, you have to adapt, but overall, it makes life better and more fun! You just need to be more organized.” - Toby, Harper’s dad

Memorable Highlights 

“I was lucky enough to see my baby take his first steps recently. The look on his face was just amazing, he was so proud of himself, as was I to be able to enjoy the moment.” - Andrew, Lewis’s dad

“I love to hear my children say ‘dad’, ‘dada’, and ‘daddy’. Knowing that they would like my help or are happy I am home from work is the best feeling. It makes me happy to be able to spend as much time as possible with them and see their smiles while they are playing or learning new things.” - Andrew, Lewis’s dad

“The sense of euphoria when my baby finally came into the world - I’ll never forget the joy of holding onto our child for the first time.” - Toby, Harper’s dad

“Receiving unconditional love from my children, watching them grown and become independent and capable people.” - Anders, Johannes & Felix’s dad

Words of Wisdom 

“Try not to rush, soak up every moment as much as possible.” - Vlad, Rosie’s dad

“Talk with your partner, express when you are finding it hard - no doubt they are having similar worries.” - Andrew, Lewis’s dad

“Try and keep your cool – your children can understand more than you think.” - Martin, Noella’s dad