"Dadding"

"Dadding" as eloquently defined above, is not for the faint at heart.

Let us start by saying this: Preparation for this phase of life is MANDATORY. Should you choose to not heed this warning, be advised, it will all still work out.

Let's look at the 5 most important things that every dad will need in dealing with their new life as a parent.

1. Patience - (new) Dads can all agree, that there has to be an undefined amount of patience with yourself, your spouse, and your child as you continue through this process. This is, of course, IF you desire to succeed as a parent and earn the coveted title of "Great Dad."

2. Understanding - You may ask yourself, "What is there to understand about parenting?" While this article is meant to be a quick read, we'll share the following short, yet non-exhaustive list of things yet to be understood by parents worldwide:

- late night crying

- throwing food

- wearing food

- wearing poop

- the proud giggle when observed wearing said poop...

- mid-day insomnia

- late night feedings

- etc...

Again, while the above list is not meant to be all-inclusive, the point is that as a new das, your only understanding is that you'll not need to understand why the aforementioned happens... You just simply need to be there for it, laugh when it happens, and understand that it's a part of the process.

3. Compassion/Care - Think about a time when you've visited an entirely foreign place (Before Siri and Google Maps). what would you need to do? Establish communication with the locals and likely find places to go if not armed with a map of the local terrain. The benefit of embarking upon this journey as an adult is that you've had many years of practicing communication and learning ways to relate to others in your surrounding environment.

Contrast this with your newborn. Here for just 5 weeks and they've got nothing to say, nowhere to go, and no possible way to communicate the things they ACTUALLY think or desire. So before you get upset about the 3am tears, the mid-day fuss sessions, and the late night poop cleanings, consider that if they could, they would, communicate in a way that works best for all. But until then, be that poop-cleaning, night-feeding, and day-sitting dad that your child (and spouse) need you to be.

4. Present - When your favorite team is playing, I get it, you want to show your support. And yes, it is entirely feasible to watch sports highlights or the Superbowl with your new found friend. However, consider some of the more meaningful moments that will ultimately aid in the child's development. These moments of growth are made for bonding. Time singing with your child while looking into their eyes. Holding them as you move about instead of just leaving them in the crib or playpen. Even just reading a few pages to them while they sleep can make a difference in their development. These are just a few ways to be totally present with your child. Consider how they'll feel afterward and shut off the screen and become the face they want to see most.

5. Loving - Men, it's SOOOOOOOOOO IMPORTANT that you EXPRESS the love you have for your child TO THEM on a regular and recurring basis. Love is a foreign concept to children though they come to understand its meaning and how it's shown as they reflect as older children, teens, and adults on times of their childhood. These simple-to-do things like saying "I Love you", "I'm proud of you," or "I'm proud to be your dad," can make a HUGE impact on your child's understanding of relationships, their self-esteem, and the confidence in themselves and in you as they grow older. Look for as many (reasonable) ways to show your love for your child so that they know that it comes from the home FIRST...

While this list can extend beyond the Great Wall of China, this is just a starting point. Take a moment to reflect on the aforementioned methods of "Dadding" and add if you'd like! #DadOn #TheDailyDad