Brilliant dad feature week 27

August 28, 2015

I’m Joe Rawlinson. I live with my wife and four children (two boys and twin girls) in Austin, Texas, USA. I help fathers of twins overcome the challenges of preparing for and raising twins via my books, podcast, and website, Dads Guide to Twins.

1. Have you always wanted to be a dad?

I have always wanted to be a dad. I knew that once I was married I would have kids. I wasn’t quite sure how many kids I wanted, but our four seem to be just the right number (although twins were a big shock).

2. How did you feel when your children were born?

When my first son was born, I was overwhelmed with emotion, tears filled my eyes, and I was in awe. With our second son, I was on the verge of tears but kept it under control and basked in the joy of his delivery. When our twin girls were born I was so busy scrambling around the operating room that I didn’t really have time to mentally process what happened until later. That’s when it hit me that, yes, we really did just have twins and they would be overwhelming.

3. What have been your most rewarding experiences so far as a Dad?

Surviving infant twins was a huge achievement especially considering that we had four kids ages three and under. I’ve never been so sleep deprived and tired in my life. And yet, we made it through that first year and things got better! Now that my children are a little older and more self sufficient my most rewarding experiences are when they do something I taught them (and with out me asking). This could be a simple household task like putting away the dishes or hearing them pray by themselves.

4. What are some of funniest moments to have happened to you as a dad?

After the birth of our first son while we were still in the hospital room. I was sleeping on the couch while our son was in his crib. I was pulled from sleep by our newborn’s cries. I was so tired and disoriented that I couldn’t find the baby. In my sleepy stupor, I scooped up the bundle from the crib and brought it to my wife. I couldn’t figure out why she wasn’t taking the baby from my arms. It was then that I realized my wife already had the baby and all I was holding were the blankets.

5. Have there been any situations with your children that you have found difficult to cope with?

Disciplining my children is difficult. I want to think logically and solve problems. However, when one of our kids is throwing a temper tantrum, logic and reason just don’t work. I’ve had to learn what works with each child and adapt to their individual needs. This has been a trial and error process that doesn’t always work in my favor.

6. What are your dreams and hopes for your children?

I want my kids to be hard working, self-sufficient, happy, and have a strong faith in God. I hope they will be better than me and be a great influence for good to those around them.

Thank you so much to Joe for taking part appreciate your time.