So You Want To Become A Dad 

This year is my 22nd year as a parent. Have I learnt anything along the way? YES! Don’t have children haha! I’m only kidding!

It’s been an interesting journey that I have found has had many ups and downs. If I’m honest they have mostly been ups. I have become a dad five times and that is something that I have found to be the most wonderful achievement that I have had in my life. I guess by having five children it was a case of practice makes perfect!

The fact that I have an age span of 16 years with my children, the oldest being 21 years old down to the youngest being five year old twins, I believe gives me a wealth of experience of the toughest job in the world, parenting.

We so often get it wrong, but we invariably always get it right because we learn how to deal with our children’s demands and needs as they grow and their character and personality develop.

So you want to become a dad and this is my list of what to expect from baby to adulthood.

1. The first thing you undoubtedly need to do is find somebody that wants to have a child with you. Not easy that one and unfortunately you think you have it worked out and how wrong we can be.

2. So you are in relationship and you have to decide the right time to have a baby. Let’s be honest, there is no right time. There will never be and you can, if you want to, think of a million reasons not to have baby.

3. The minute this child comes into the world you will be challenged like you have never been before, you thoughts exams, university and starting a new job were tough? Well, they will feel like a walk in the park compared to becoming a dad and just when you thought there are no more challenges, haha! Not a chance! They keep coming at you for 20 years and beyond. 

4. Emotionally you will be sent on a rollercoaster that will make the Pepsi max ride in Blackpool feel like a swing in your local park. The moment you become a dad your children will reduce you to an emotional wreck on a regular basis. They could be tears of joy, pride and unfortunately sometimes sadness. Believe me, you won’t reaslise until you are a dad how emotional you are as a person.

5. One of absolute favourites, not ! Money! You will need plenty and it does not stop ever! As your children grow, your pockets need to get deeper and deeper to keep your children supplied with money and all the luxuries of life and it does not stop when they get to 18 years old, especially if they go to university omg! Then you need more money.

6. Becoming a dad is a very important commitment and it’s a lifetime commitment. It really never ends, but that’s a good thing in my opinion. Even now my 21 year old rings for advice and I’m always there to help in any way I can.

7. You will never from the day your children are born stop worrying about them, whether they are ill as babies and they can’t tell you what’s wrong or as teenagers they have their heart broken and you have to put them back together, and of when they start going out to town clubbing and you lie awake waiting for the front door to open and shut.

8. Before becoming a dad you had a lively full social life. Say goodbye to spontaneous moments of just going to the cinema, a meal or down the pub. Children will put this on hold for years and when you can again you are normally asleep on the sofa by 9pm.

9. Love. This is something that happens instantly. Well it did for me and it will never go away. Love for your child is unlimited and without any restrictions or boundaries. Your children bring out a love that I guarantee you never knew existed.

10. Becoming a dad will complete your life. It will make everything else in this mad world make sense. It gives you a feeling that when asked what’s it like to be a dad? I have never known how to answer. Other than it’s the best feeling in the world.

11. Of course having five children will mean that you’re forever buying toys to help keep them entertained so better start saving!

So you want to be a dad? Go for it, but be warned your life will change beyond regonitition. For me the change was the best thing that ever happened to me.