Macho men with daughters

[slatebuilder]

My daughter is a tough little shit. In some ways she is tougher and more intense than my 16 yo son. She’s 13 now and is on the honor roll as a rule. She also plays 3 sports, soccer, basketball, and now wrestling. She is also one of my favorite hunting partners.

It’s doesn’t matter whether you have boys or girls. Live a good and honest life and include your kids in what you do.

Let them be kids too. Everyone wants their kids to the next world champion in ____________. That includes hunting. Emphasize the right things in the activities that you do. There are different emphasis that need to be placed on activities at different ages. When they are small keeping them interested and enjoying things is most important. Keep them coming back for more. As long as they keep coming back, they will be there when winning and success matters, or they will be there later in life when you want or need a hunting buddy etc.

 

[dreadi]

Sorry, not sorry. My daughter is almost a year old and I have a lot to say for advice as my mind keeps circling back over the past few months.

If you live somewhere with Amazon service, you can sign up for a baby registry of just a diaper fund. If you're using disposable diapers, you can expect to be using about 300 diapers a month if you're changing early and often.

Get a nice reclining/rocking chair that's comfortable for you and your wife. Get a boppy pillow for arm support while you're sitting and holding your baby. Be mindful of rocking and feeding at the same time. They can easily get nauseated and vomit all that milk/formula.

Get your own diaper bag separate from mom's. Tactical Baby Gear makes manly looking and functions bags.

Used baby clothes work just as good as new ones. Old Navy usually has out of season design jumpers for $6.

Don't start behaviors that you will have to work them out of such as bottles in bed if you can avoid it. Although it is easier to put them back to sleep while they are laying down in their bed with a bottle in their mouth. Especially at 3am.

 

[StupidLightweight]

Congrats, OP. Get ready for the adventure of your lifetime.

My daughter was our first child, and her birth was the most amazing thing I'll experience. As soon as her little body came out of my wife, my life changed, a switch was flipped. Three years later, I doubt I'd recognize the old me prior to kids. As you'll soon find out, becoming a father is that big of a life change.

Though I'm now poor, have zero free time, tired as hell, and struggle at being the best parent to our girl (3) and her brother (21 months), I feel so lucky to have healthy kids, food in their bellies, and a loving wife to share the trenches with. In the end, they're all that matters.

Make no mistake, parenting will be the best job of your life. It will also be the hardest. As others have said, spend as much time with your daughter as you can. Love her. Show her compassion. Above all else, be the best father you can be.

 

[Mtank79]

I have 4 daughters ages 24,19,2(3 next month) & 14 month & a 2.5 yr old granddaughter. When my wife was 31 weeks pregnant with our soon to be 3 year old she was admitted to Vanderbilt. We were told she would be there until she had the baby & they wanted to keep the baby in as long as it was safe for both. My oldest daughter was pregnant at the same time & came to visit. That got some looks having your pregnant wife in the hospital on bed rest while your oldest daughter is also pregnant visits her. Our daughter was born 7 weeks early & weighed 3lbs 9 oz & spent / weeks in the NICU.Between my wife & Dani we stayed in Vanderbilt exactly a month. I don’t consider myself macho by any means but I’m 6’5” 230 navy vet, Harley rider , hunter, drag racer & make a living working with missiles. But when there’s something going on with your wife or you have to see your baby girl hooked up to all the monitors will humble you real fast. Our 14 month old was a total surprise but I thank God daily for them. I screwed up a lot with my oldest two & God granted me a do over.
Always always always tell her you love her, let her know you’ll always protect her from whatever it is. Invest in a good baby carrier, we have a few but with our 2 yr old I used an ergobaby all the time. My wife breast fed both , so I don’t have a lot of bottle time. Hell she’s still nursing them almost 3 straight years of a baby on the boob. Like mentioned above get your own diaper bag. My wife got me a tactical dad bag backpack. The back panel section unzips & make into a changing mat. When it’s zipped up though you’d never know it. I’ve carried it all over the country & to UAE twice for work.

 

[Greenbelt]

I’ve been sitting around, patiently waiting for a couple of weeks now on the birth of my DAUGHTER! I’m still trying to wrap my head around that. Like most men, I thought my whole life I was going to have a son if I did have kids at all.

I’ve never changed a diaper! My one hunting buddy told me I was going to do great at it and said “you’ve dressed a lot of animals, it’s the same thing, just don’t get any poop where it doesn’t belong.”

To be honest, I’ve always wanted kids. Just wasn’t really happening. I commercial fish for a living, so I’m often gone for half the year. Half of the rest of the half, I was always gone hunting or out on an adventure. This year I’ve canceled my sheep hunt and caribou hunt. Super super weird. But my taxidermist ensured me, raising a daughter is better then any sheep hunt!

Let’s hear it! I’m curious to hear y’all’s advice. What’s it like raising a little female version of yourself?

I had kids young and old. lol. All three of them are girls. I cant speak much on having boys, but I know a lot about the girls. Mine are ages 20, 16, and 8. The guy who said the first 13 yrs are fun pretty much nailed it and they are all gonna be different My advice; treat their Mother with the utmost respect, and let them see you be in love with your wife. Always open the car door for them (mom first). Do not take any of this for granted.

I’ve been sitting around, patiently waiting for a couple of weeks now on the birth of my DAUGHTER! I’m still trying to wrap my head around that. Like most men, I thought my whole life I was going to have a son if I did have kids at all.

I’ve never changed a diaper! My one hunting buddy told me I was going to do great at it and said “you’ve dressed a lot of animals, it’s the same thing, just don’t get any poop where it doesn’t belong.”

To be honest, I’ve always wanted kids. Just wasn’t really happening. I commercial fish for a living, so I’m often gone for half the year. Half of the rest of the half, I was always gone hunting or out on an adventure. This year I’ve canceled my sheep hunt and caribou hunt. Super super weird. But my taxidermist ensured me, raising a daughter is better then any sheep hunt!

Let’s hear it! I’m curious to hear y’all’s advice. What’s it like raising a little female version of yourself?

I had kids young and old. lol. All three of them are girls. I cant speak much on having boys, but I know a lot about the girls. Mine are ages 20, 16, and 8. The guy who said the first 13 yrs are fun pretty much nailed it and they are all gonna be different. My advice; treat their Mother with the utmost respect, and let them see you be in love with your wife. Always open the car door for them (mom first). Do not take any of this for granted. You one day will miss it all. The tantrums, the sleepless nights, the first days of school, parent teacher conferences, homework, sports, all of it. The only thing you will regret is not being there more and that's it. Its gonna go fast, so make sure you live in it, being part of their story and yours. Like someone else said; hold that baby every chance you get.