I often have conversations that start off sounding perfectly normal to me but then people look at me like I’m crazy.
The other day we had our work twice a year get together. Since I’m a consultant, I rarely see the people from the company that I actually work for. I haven’t seen anybody since Giggles was born.
The following conversation occurred with two separate people during the party and several other times over the last few weeks:
Not Me: How is BAGM sleeping?
Me: Great. She doesn’t even bother changing her breathing pattern when I get out of bed to feed Giggles in the middle of the night.
Not Me: You’re feeding…what?
Me: Yeah, I feed the baby when she wakes up in the middle of the night. BAGM ends up chasing the kids around all day and needs more rest than I do. Plus, it gives me some one on one time with Giggles.
Not Me: Wow.
Funny. If BAGM was the one feeding Giggles all night, nobody would even blink. But when I do it, people are shocked even though I’m sure there are plenty of other dads out there doing the exact same thing. I guess that’s why it is still all too common to walk into the men’s room and not find a changing table.
For the record, I also do a fair amount of laundry and dishes and BAGM has been known to hang pictures on the wall all by herself. We are such a modern couple.
The good news is that Giggles is waking up for the night feeding between 4:30 and 5am instead of 2:30am so we are getting closer to a real full night sleep. Also, BAGM has put the baby on notice. January 8th.
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yup, sexism is alive and well. I even suffer from it on occasion. I teach “parent participation” classes (what would have been called mommy and me 10 years ago). I often catch myself getting excited when a daddy participates at all. (although we do have a few great daddies who are there on a regular basis and totally involved with their kids, including 2 SAH dads that I know of).
If it were me, I would have probably (without thinking) distastefully made a joke about you breastfeeding. I know people chose formula for a variety of reasons, but I tend to assume that everyone breastfeeds. I would have blushed and felt horrible for days.
That probably would have balanced out the karma gods since I once congratulated a woman I hadn’t seen in over a year for being pregnant when she was just gaining weight. Then I didn’t even feel bad about it since she was always mean to everyone. I assume the karma gods will come back and get me about that one someday.
Uh, our public library doesn’t have a changer in either bathroom.
While I agree that it is stupid not to have a changer, at least they are proudly not discriminating.
I think it’s more rare than you think. In fact, I hear of Dad’s who refuse to change a diaper or at least refuse to change a #2 diaper because they can’t take it.
There same Dad’s seem to have no trouble “preparing” a deer.
I don’t get the whole not changing diapers thing. At the worst it is just poop and there is bound to be soap somewhere in the house. I guess old traditions die hard.
Funny #2 diaper story. Giggles was grunting and groaning every time I went upstairs for more coffee today. My mom and dad are here today watching the kids. I looked over at Giggles and asked her to make sure she takes care of that before I get off of work.
About a half hour later, BAGM walked back into the computer room after one of her breaks laughing because Papaw had just finished spending, and I quote, “20 minutes changing Giggles’ diaper.”
Me and that kid are going to get along just fine.
That’s funny. My sister’s boyfriend had an interesting #2 diaper experience when I was just a new Dad. Let’s just say we had to open the windows of the house to air it out.
I’m a little out of practice. My favorite daughter-in-law gets a kick out of me and that’s worth any soiled diaper that I have to replenish. Style points are for ice skating and gymnastics. Besides, I guess Giggles now has the smell of Papaw (I did feed her three times yesterday) and I know I’ll remember her smell as well:) Dad