10 Things I Have Learned Since Becoming a Dad

I always reference my archives when people ask what I was like before I was a dad. I was a completely different person. I did not want kids or to be married. I look back at that stupid kid and I want to shake him. Becoming a father is not what changes you. Being a father is what changes you. Being a Dad is a learning process every single day. In the last 3 years, I have learned a thing or two. Here is a short list of long lessons.

10. Patience is a virtue find it in a woman and you better find it too.
My mom has a saying similar that goes “Patience is a virtue find it in a woman, never in a man.” I will be the first to admit, I had no patience before being a father. Now, to get through a sentence it might take my daughter a week to get to the point.

9. Humility, it happens.
There is no more humble experience than changing a diaper except the words, “Daddy, I’m done come wipe my booty!”

8. This too shall pass.
As a first time dad, I might have been a wee bit overprotective. While we were still in the hospital, I would assault people with anti-bacterial foam. I apologize to my family and friends that I made use excessively. Kids are tough and resilient. Yes they get sick and they fall down but they are tough. There will be tears but they will pass.

7. Running while screaming is fun.
Next time you are near a playground, stop and listen. You will hear shrieks of joy while children are running. To me that translates to that sometimes you need to let it all go and run around and scream a little bit. Try it literally with your child or your niece/nephew or you friend’s kids. You’ll forget all your problems for a few moments.

6. Non- parents just don’t understand.
I lost a lot of friends when that stick said YES. I wasn’t the first of my friends to have a kid but I was the last one it was expected of. It did help me figure out who my true friends were and I have built some awesome relationships because of it. At work, I am one of the few my age with a kid. The non-parents don’t understand the stress of parenthood or the joys that follow it.

5. Always be listening.
In #10 I stated that it could take a week at times for my daughter to get to the point. Other times, she can make her point in seconds if I am not paying attention. Every night Danni and I kneel in front of her bed and say the “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” prayer. Every night about half way through she whispers, “I really love you daddy.” If I wasn’t listening I would miss those sweet little words.

4. Google is your new best friend
You are not going to remember all those nursery rhymes that you want to pass on to your kid. You probably not going to know how to put the pack and play together. Forgot how to swaddle the baby because you were half asleep when the nurse showed you. Google, YouTube, Facebook, etc are all going to be great resources. You are not the first nor will you be last to have the problems you are having. Someone has been through it and either written about it, posted a video about it or done both.

3. Having a child is like letting your heart walk around
With your heart inside your chest, it is protected. Being a parent is taking that natural protection away and exposing it to the elements. You can’t protect them from everything no matter how hard you try.
2. It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s daddy
You are the strongest, best, and can fix anything in you child’s eyes. You can not disappoint them if you do your best. No matter what they will always love you. Try not to screw it up.


1. You are being watched.
No matter what time of the day or night (except when she is asleep) Danni is watching me. She likes to walk like me. She likes to laugh like me. She even says the same catchphrases I say.

Children are a blank slate and learn everything from you. It is worse than Santa Clause and him knowing if you have been bad or good so be good for goodness sake.

Being under this constant supervision can be a little taxing. It has its bonuses though. I am so on guard that I have become a better human being and employee. You will find nothing improper here. My kid might see me.

This is my entry for the Building Camelot HP Back-to School Better Together Giveaway, in which I hope to win two laptops, a bag and software to sync the two. Building Camelot has a list of the laptop giveaways and much more on his blog.

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