Being Mommy is wonderful, it’s even better than I thought it would be… But sometimes, just sometimes, I dream about being Daddy.
Daddy didn’t have nine months of pregnancy to deal with. No morning sickness. No swollen feet and ankles. No labour anxiety or being too uncomfortable to sleep. And Daddy still got to benefit from weird pregnancy cravings: too many McDonalds meals than I’d care to admit to and a freezer full of Mars Icecreams.
‘Hello Pickle. You alright in there? Cup of tea?’ Sunday morning chats with LPD and Pickle
Daddy didn’t feel like a failure after the midwives told us we were still only 2cm dilated (same as we had been for 6 days) despite two sweeps and two induction pessaries. Daddy didn’t have to watch all the other women on the antenatal ward go off to have their babies overnight and wake up after a very interrupted sleep on an empty ward. No, Daddy got to eat KFC on the way home to a nice cosy bed and get a full night’s sleep in preparation for what the next day might bring.
Daddy didn’t puke his guts up when labour finally ramped up. Or have a catheter reinserted five times in the space of half an hour. He didn’t cry with disappointment after 90 minutes of hard pushing to be taken to theatre. Lucky Daddy.
Daddy wasn’t there for the horrible first few weigh-ins, when baby’s weight had dropped a scary amount. Daddy couldn’t blame himself for that. Daddy wasn’t the one who had a crazy breakdown when baby was five days old because the nipple pain was agonising and the self-doubt was overwhelming. Daddy didn’t feel conflicted when looking in the mirror, trying to feel proud of how much his body had accomplished but at the same time feeling anxious that he’d never quite be the same again.
Daddy’s day-to-day life hasn’t really changed all that much. He still goes to work and earns a living. His bank balance has been relatively unaffected. Daddy comes home to lovely smiles and cuddles from baby, soaks it up for an hour or so and then passes baby back.
Daddy gets told how good he is with baby. Isn’t it amazing that he changes baby’s nappy? Well done Daddy. He’s such a lovely Daddy. The Daddy expectation bar is set so low that Daddy just has to smile at baby to be heralded as Dad of the Year. (He kind of is Dad of Year though…)
This photo melts my heart every time I see it…
The Mommy expectation bar is set too high. Mommy can change all the nappies and sick covered outfits, take baby for walks and to sensory classes, be up all hours of the night feeding but yet still feels like she’s not done enough. Mommy really should have managed to do the washing up too.
Daddy probably doesn’t feel the need to defend every parenting decision to all those who offer their opinions or advice.
Daddy gets a lunch break at work. A whole hour to himself. He can eat whatever he likes and take his time eating it. Daddy has time to think about, well, anything he likes really. He can switch off for a bit and chill out. He knows when it’s time for bed that he can get a good night’s sleep. He’s not woken by every snuffle and stir. He isn’t a human midnight feast. Or 2am feast. 3am feast. 5am feast. His body gets a rest at night. He can actually lie flat and let his bones and muscles recouperate. Mommy gets up in the morning with an achy back and less energy than she had the night before. Mommy has a little bit less energy every single day.
Mommy is so very tired…
Mommy’s been on one girly night out in over a year. Mommy had to plan it weeks in advance and ask Daddy if it would be okay. Mommy had to express milk everyday in the run up to the night out, panicking every time about how much baby would need. Because Mommy has no idea how much baby drinks. Daddy can go to the pub for a pint at a moment’s notice. He doesn’t need to ask permission or arrange baby care. He doesn’t have to worry about how missing a feed might affect his milk supply. He just enjoys a nice cold pint.
The face of a nervous Mommy about to have her first night out in AGES.
But Daddy doesn’t get as much time off to enjoy baby like Mommy does. He misses out on seeing baby develop and learn every day. He doesn’t know what it’s like to cradle a sleepy post-feed baby for an hour or so and just watch his little face, so peaceful and perfect. He isn’t baby’s favourite restaurant. Or baby’s favourite sleeping place. Daddy’s smell isn’t as comforting as Mommy’s smell. Mommy was home for 9 months and is still home now. And that’s so precious. Mommy cherishes every single moment with baby. Mommy can’t imagine saying goodbye and leaving him every day. Mommy wishes Daddy could be off as well. Mommy knows Daddy wishes he could spend more time at home. Mommy is very lucky.
Mommy life is hard work, and the sacrifices are great, but it’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. My proudest job title. It brings deep set happiness on a scale I didn’t even know was possible. I wouldn’t swap it for anything. Being Mommy is wonderful, it’s even better than I thought it would be…
But sometimes, just sometimes, I dream about being Daddy.
Jon
Fantastic post this. It’s interesting how both sides view each other during pregnancy and when the baby is born. While he is at work he probably wishes he could have more time with his child!
five little doves
I love this, so true!! Daddys seem to have it pretty easy in comparison and yet the babies usually end up looking just like them and all the kids want is Daddy each day, mainly because Mummy has had to tell them off!! We Mummys really do get the short straw, but there are some lovely sides to being a Mummy and I think growing a human being will always give us one up on Daddy in every single argument!!!
Little Pickle's Mom
Definitely Laura! I have to keep reminding myself of all the wonderful Mommy-only loveliness and pride that Daddy misses out on. I’d quite like to trade lives for one day though…!
Dean of Little Steps
This is a lovely heartwarming post and really encapsulates what parenthood is all about. I would love to be daddy too, but like you said, being mummy is love too. x
Jess Powell (Babi a Fi)
Aw, lovely post. We had it the other way around a bit because I had to go back to work after two months, and my partner was home with the baby all day, every day. It took us some time to readjust our expectations of each other – I felt like he was just leaving everything for me to do when I got in, and he felt like I just didn’t appreciate how much work looking after the baby was. We got there in the end though! 🙂
Hannah Budding Smiles
Love this post, it’s so true! I’m finding parenthood very difficult these days because Martha won’t take a bottle, pukes all the time and has stopped sleeping, whilst Toby’s hit the terrible twos full force and I’m about to launch my business. Phil tries to help but in reality there’s little he can do to give me a proper break. That said, Martha’s asleep in my arms as I type, one hand clutching the neckline of my top and I know I wouldn’t change our bond for the world xx
Fashion and Style Police
What a lovely post and so true. Daddies have it so easy most times.
Jayne @ Sticky Mud and Belly Laughs
What a lovely post and so true!
I don’t think us Mummy’s would have it any other way, besides we would miss the chaos in our daily lives. We are just awesome and get on with it 🙂 x
Rachel
I absolutely love this post, how fun would it be for a bit of role reversal x
Chloe Ciliberto
Oh my goodness this post is beyond perfect. I sometimes wish i was daddy too, but nothing beats being mummy. Well…a bit of sleep wouldn’t go amiss. x
Kara Guppy
I know just where you are coming from but Hubby often moans he misses out on the all the small stuff
Jenni
Ahh this is lovely 🙂 and so true x
clairejustine
Lovely post. I remember the tiredness and needing a little time to myself but I also loved being at home with my babies all the time too 🙂
RachelSwirl
I totally get this post and sometimes I wish I could be Daddy too as Paul is Mr Bloody Fun. He seems to rock up and suddenly the kids things he is amazing and I am just… well Mummy.