Comments on: Paternity leave is the greatest idea the human race has ever had

By: Kelly O

Kelly O — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:55:43 +0000

Congrats, Matt and family!

By: Polly

Polly — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:43:40 +0000

Hey Matt,
I agree that “enjoy every moment” is not exactly the right sentiment, although every little blue-hair who meets your daughter will tell you to do exactly that. It’s difficult to enjoy baby poop that leaks out of the diaper and onto everything, or the moments when your daughter is shrieking and you have no idea why.
But if you really take time to savour the sweet moments, to take time to memorize the scent of your baby’s hair and the curve of her cheek when she sleeps, then I think you’ll have mastered parenting a newborn.
Other than that, the one thing we have really learned over the past year of parenthood is not to worry. We don’t worry if Alexa misses a nap or gets to bed late. We don’t stress if she eats poorly one day. I learned to ignore the parenting books (all they did was make me feel like a lousy person), and go with teaching the rules for being a decent human: share, don’t hit, be gentle with people and books, brush your teeth before bed. As a result, we have a pretty sweet-tempered, adaptable little one-year-old.

By: Amber

Amber — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:05:18 +0000

I found the lactation clinic at Sinai was great. You should make appointments, but they have drop in too I think. They were really helpful and we went back every couple of days to make sure we were getting the hang of everything. I think we went 3 or 4 times in the first week after we came home. Definitely worth the schlep back to the hospital.

By: Brent M

Brent M — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:07:44 +0000

Congrats Matt! Sounds like you have a very good attitude about the whole thing. I had a month off with my little one, and I agree with the sentiment about leave being the most fabulous idea around. Imagine this: about 30-35 years ago, women were lucky to get six weeks!!

Anyway, the view from two months in is equally spectacular. Here’s some advice from the “wish I’d known” column: GET A LACTATION CONSULTANT. Have them come in and do a few housecalls over the first two weeks. We were sent home and told all was well, but our daughter wasn’t latching well to the breast, something that’s not apparent over the firsr week or so with the baby’s mouth so weak. Fast forward a month and breastfeeding was excruciating, with shredded nipples, breast infections, you name it. We (my wife!) toughed it out and things are mostly healed now, but all could have been avoided with some timely pointers from an expert. It’s well worth the couple hundred bucks, trust me.

Anyway, I’m sure you’ll do just fine, and will no doubt be ‘present’ in every moment. It’ll be great, and I assure you that even the challenging times are fabulous.

Congrats.

Brent