Baby Watch!

About the home births: My ex was about as tough as they come. Nothing for pain, no complaints and virtually no noise when the actual births happened. When she was seen from behind, you couldn't even tell she was pregnant.

I learned a lot from the births, the ongoing aftermath of raising them and what is helpful/necessary for the mom. Examples: an easy one----always leave the toilet seat DOWN
when finished peeing. Once you've heard the shout and the cussing that follows when a woman sits in COLD water in the middle of the night---rightly or wrongly---down it goes.
Get up when the little one cries--don't let it be her all the time. Go get the little bugger and bring him/her to mom. Make food as much or more than she does. Wash and dry the dishes and put them away. Give her breaks from the baby---take the little one for walks outside. I can't imagine the stress and pain involved with childbirth--even though I was there. Mind you, I learned some of this the hard way. It takes time to learn to be a good dad----I really didn't have the guidance of parents in a loving home, so it took me a while.
Having my kids was the best "thing" that has happened to me, everything considered.

Women are amazing---creating little humans inside themselves------and they could use ALL the help they can get with the tending of them.

 

Congrats! And hey 34 and 36 is still younger than my parents were when they had me!

 

Aww Scratcho. This post made me smile. You are such a decent fellow. The world needs more men like you.

 

I was 20-21 in 1960 and going to college and got a girl pregnant. Back then--you got married, like it or not. So that was in my block headed, alcoholic, dumb-ass, dangerous
years and I didn't raise her. The second batch about whom I'm speaking, came well after what helped me become human--L at 28, which (surprise, surprise) opened my eyes as to the fact --I was really a dumb-ass in the way I acted. So, changes-changes-changes. The second batch got the advantages of a reformed dumb-ass and it REALLY shows.

Thanks all you guys for the congrats----Joel

(I'm gonna' be a damn good grampa!)

 

forgot: I was 38 when the first boy was born in '78.

 

Aww, Blu3sLady-----I can't give that a like----that would mean I think I'm wonderful or something! Thank you--I appreciate the sentiment.

 

How old were your parents when they had you?

 

You know, I never even knew any family birthdays. And I have never thought about their ages. So, I was born in '39 and my dad died at 57 in 1965-sooooo it appears he was 32.
Mom died at 62 in the 7os sometime, but that figure does not exist in my brain. She was living in Puerto Vallarta when she died. I know my gramma was almost 60 when she took me to raise.

All this means is that I had a very good example of how NOT to raise children.

 

My mom was 36 and my dad was 43 I think. They still had my brother 2 years later too!

 

All my older girlfriends had babies at 36......I wouldn't be surprised if I got the urge around that age too. I'm definitely not ready now though.

In fact, at this point in my life, I could say that I don't ever want children. That might change when I'm 36 though.

 

I don't plan on having kids for quite a while either.

 

Joel, I know what a wonderful dad you were and I also know this grand baby is going to be loved to bits. Congratulations on the pending arrival of that bundle of joy and have fun with that baby, it will be blessed.

 

When a new baby comes along, I'm like coochie coochie coo for 3 months tops

Then its like yawn

 

I think that it's good to wait until later to have children. I never wanted children either, BUT--------man am I glad we did.

 

Here's something that really bugs me. When I hear the sweet laugh or see the sweet smile of a little one being carried by the mom or dad,--I want to interact by playing peek-a-boo or saying something to them---but the deal is NOW--------"who is this old man and why is he looking at my kid?" At least that's the feeling I get-----sooooo---I don't interact like that any more. Shame that.

 

at the grocery stores i make faces at them when their parents arent looking


then when the parents look around i go completely normal and pretend i have no idea what the problem is

 

I do the same thing...only...I don't know what kind of faces you make....but I play with babies and smile and make funny faces to make babies and small children laugh and smile.....and can totally be myself freely....but when adults look, i shut down, immediately....and look the other way....LOL or sometimes smile at them, too, if i am in a less shy mood and say cute baby or child...whatever the case may be.

Congrats, Scratcho.

 

i usually just cross my eyes

 

I love kids when they're at a distance (like next room or further)!

 

obviously it's your choice when or if to have children, but don't you worry about increased chances of down syndrome from having a child at ages approaching 40?

i feel like if i had waited to have a child until i was "ready"...i would never be 100% ready. so i am glad that i had a daughter when i was 29, so i won't be too old to watch her grow up. (already feeling minor age-related aches and pains haha)

but there are definitely benefits to waiting as well. one would be population control. what matters a LOT more for slowing population growth is having children later in life - not necessarily having fewer children.



anyways...Congrats, scratcho! i know that my parents and in-laws are enjoying being grandparents. they are all 4 new grandparents with the birth of my daughter.