Saturday, June 17, 2017

Why You Should Have Another Kid, Even If You Think You Shouldn't

When you first get together with a romantic partner, after you’ve introduced them to family or friends, the first question from everyone you encounter becomes “when are you getting married?” After you’re married, the first question becomes when are you having kids? After your first child is born, shortly after the placenta is delivered, the big question evolves into “when are you having another one?” This process seems to continue until you eventually become a grandparent.

Asking about someone’s potential reproductive plans is not only nosy, it’s not a simple question as there are always myriad factors that go into these decisions. When Mrs. Dude and I began talking about starting a family, I wanted 3 kids (because I came from a family with 3 kids) and she wanted 2 kids (you can probably guess why). We got married in our early 30s, became parents a couple years later, and then again 3 years later, so time was not working in our favor. But thoughts of “what if?” lingered in both my wife’s and my mind after the Littler Dude was no longer so, um, little.
 
As our 40th birthdays approached, the conversation continued, and we went back and forth on how we could potentially add another child into the mix, if we could even get pregnant again, that is. Then one day, I read something that helped solidify the plan for me. In a Facebook group I belong to, someone mentioned that you don’t only have kids for yourselves as parents, but it’s important to consider having kids for them to have each other, as time passes and life evolves. Nine months later, give or take, Little Miss Dude was born. 

Beyond my prognostication that we were only ever going to have boys, having baby #3 changed my mindset toward parenting. We were never the type to sterilize the baby if they encountered a speck of dirt, so laid-back parenting has always been our M.O. But it’s the knowledge gained via almost 7 years of parenting experience when she was born that has made my daughter a different type of gift. She was a gift for my wife and for me, but also for her brothers, who at almost 7 and 4 when she was born couldn’t believe how lucky they were to have another life to help shape.


From day one, which began early one Friday morning at 4:15am with Mrs. Dude’s water breaking three weeks before her scheduled C-Section date, Little Miss Dude has made the perfect punctuation for our family. Unlike after our boys’ births, I was able to take paid paternity leave after she was born, and the almost 10 weeks we spent together day in and out, helped lay the foundation for our now complete quintet.



Now that her first year is 3 quarters over, I can’t imagine life without this little girl, whose infectious smile helps her makes friends in every grocery store line, restaurant and little league game she attends. I know how lucky I am to have three wonderful children, even if they usually wake up too early and are sometimes too picky with food. They are happy and healthy, which helps me feel confident that they will live long healthy lives, as wonderful children, siblings and hopefully parents themselves.

************************************************

We usually think about all that we are thankful for later in the year, with turkey and pumpkin pie, but with Father’s Day upon us, I’ve partnered with Life of Dad and Pampers to say #ThanksBaby for helping complete my family.

I’m sure you have stories about your kids and what you are thankful for, so please use the #ThanksBaby hashtag on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook with a picture and a few words about what your little ones have done for you.

Also, take a moment to check out this great video that Pampers put together to honor all kinds of fathers on Father’s Day:











36 comments:

  1. This is so far the most useful post I have ever come across because I often have to face a situation in which I have to feed the expected guests

    ReplyDelete
  2. have a glimpse right here and you will find interesting essays about kids, and different scientific essays.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nice Informative Blog having nice sharing.. ovulation kit

    ReplyDelete
  4. We are really grateful for your blog post. You will find a lot of approaches after visiting your post. I was exactly searching for. Thanks for such post and please keep it up. Great work. 新宮市 家族葬

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am curious to find out what blog system you are working with? I’m experiencing some small security issues with my latest website and I would like to find something more secure. Do you have any suggestions? BGC condo for sale

    ReplyDelete
  6. The blog has an extremely narrow focus that extends, surprisingly into wide range of concerns.Roofing repairs

    ReplyDelete
  7. This web site is really a walk-through for all of the info you wanted about this and didn?t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and you?ll definitely discover it. An elephant will never go chasing after a fly

    ReplyDelete
  8. https://www.paperdollminiatures.com/2018/02/belmont-house-interior.html?showComment=1595620676659#c721367388253878318

    ReplyDelete
  9. Really I enjoy your site with effective and useful information. It is included very nice post with a lot of our resources.thanks for share. i enjoy this post. مسلسلات قصة عشق

    ReplyDelete
  10. If you're confident you could do it or simply want to give it a pass, you'll want to recognise the approaches in which you could market your house so that you get hold of a brief trouble-loose sale as well as accomplishing the first-rate sale price possible.קבלן שלד מחיר

    ReplyDelete
  11. There are numerous reasons why our customers need a quick house deal. In some cases it's the dissatisfaction of sitting tight for a proposal in the wake of putting their home available. Others need money advances quick. Clavon

    ReplyDelete
  12. But the real key to why these cartoon shorts were more appealing than early TV cartoon shows were due to a few things.

    kiss anime

    ReplyDelete
  13. https://www.connectthedotsginger.com/2017/08/summer-house-project-board-and-batten.html

    ReplyDelete
  14. my link
    Cool blog site friend I'm about to suggest this to all my listing contacts.

    ReplyDelete
  15. The caliber of information that you're offering is merely wonderful.
    recommended you read

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is wonderful and quite informative blog I have learnt so many things from here.
    see this

    ReplyDelete
  17. While other models will reverse this design. All of these items will require some assembly and vary in price according to the materials used and the amount of features it comes with. bed with slide

    ReplyDelete
  18. Your writing was great in every way and it really is the story of every family. I totally agree with you that family questions continues until you become a grandfather. Research Paper Writing Services

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anyway there is a loophole...several private posting land sites really buy in as individuals to the above sites. https://yes-mallorca-property.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Stupendous blog you guys have provided there, I will absolutely valuate your effort.
    investigate this site

    ReplyDelete
  21. Later a stop at the House of Hungarian wines will allow you to indulge in over fifty different wines from the region. budapest rental

    ReplyDelete
  22. There are various sub-types in these like standard bunk bed, twin over bunk bed, l shape bunk bed, loft bed, triple lindy loft bed etc. A standard bunk bed has two similar sized mattresses keep one on top of the other. The lower one is usually a full size bed and upper is twin sized. bed with slide

    ReplyDelete
  23. A great content material as well as great layout. Your website deserves all of the positive feedback it’s been getting. I will be back soon for further quality contents. dundalk cash homes for sale

    ReplyDelete
  24. Your realtor isn't rehearsing wizardry as an afterthought. Also, you're not totally liberated from obligation with regards to the open house. villas in south bangalore

    ReplyDelete
  25. Nothing beats carrying your home to a vacation. del mar office

    ReplyDelete
  26. Have you missed any episode of your favorite Pinoy TV show? No problem, you can watch it on our website. We stream all Pinoy TV episodes online so you will never miss any previous episode of your favorite show. Just find your missed episode from our site and keep watching.

    Pinoy Teleserye
    Pinoy Tambayan
    Pinoy Lambingan
    Pinoy Channel
    Pinoytambayan

    ReplyDelete
  27. How beautifully all the feelings have been conveyed through writing.
    Rooftech Construction

    ReplyDelete
  28. Car removal or car recycling is the best choice to keep you environment safe. We buy and help you to get rid of your unwanted car and get an instant estimate for your car. At Car Sydney Removal, we deal with all your scrap, old, mishap, broken, used and undesirable vehicles that are not worth enrolling any longer. Most exceedingly if your vehicle is in an awful condition, running or dead, don’t pause, call us or essentially fill our form and receive a quick money quote for your vehicle.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Are you looking for the right beach holiday along side Mediterranean Sea? Then consider vacation to La Manga. mangakakalot

    ReplyDelete
  30. Kitty is Japanese, and exhibits many of those characteristics for which the Japanese cartoons are known. 4 anime

    ReplyDelete
  31. It is now quicker to obtain manga for Kindle, iPad, the Nook and various digital reading devices. mangadex

    ReplyDelete
  32. Their organization is to generate a new soundtrack, which specifically requires adding voices to a show, broadcast or recording. They are "Instant Voices." Often, they these are known as "dubbers." 9 anime

    ReplyDelete
  33. You've heard the word, but do you really know what Manga is or why your kids are so keen on it? Get the lowdown from someone who knows what Manga is about and gives us five things you'll love about it. kissanime

    ReplyDelete
  34. Really a great addition. I have read this marvelous post. Thanks for sharing information about it. I really like that. Thanks so lot for your convene. roblox scripts

    ReplyDelete
  35. You have a very wonderful family. My kids are one of my stress relievers. www.aaaroofcompany.com

    ReplyDelete