The Daddy Tag Challenge

#TheDaddyTag

I've been asked to try out The Dad Tag challenge. So as an extra to the normal posts on Little Bear, this one will run through some of my thoughts as a dad.

The Frenchie Mummy has set some questions for dads to answer. Feel free to join in if you're doing your own dad-blog by clicking the pic.

The Daddy Tag Challenge

1 - Are you a Stay at Home Daddy or a Working Daddy?

I don't stay at home much as I try to take Little Bear out most days, and the two of us are currently visiting family in Sweden for the month! But I guess while I'm on Parental Leave, I'm a 'stay-at-home' dad. I was a working dad whilst my wife was on Parental Leave, which was great, but I'm enjoying my turn as 'stay-at-home' parent more than working!

2 - Would you have it any other way?​

No way, I'm loving it.

3 - Do you co-change dirty nappies? Even the very smelly ones?

To me being a parent is about sharing all ups and downs, including the very smelly ones! In the first few weeks, I was the only one changing Little Bear as my wife was more exhausted than I was (mostly from breast feeding), but I showed her the ropes just before I had to go back to work!

4 - A little fairy gives you the possibility of breastfeeding? Are you going for it or do you run away?

I'd tell him I'd prefer wings, as would Little Bear. Having seen so many mothers really struggle with breastfeeding it would definitely be a no. I've seen pictures of women doing it like it's the easiest thing in the world, but knowing my luck, it would never be like that.

I also remember how much easier it was for me to enjoy feeding Little Bear in the beginning when I gave him a bottle, compared to my poor wife who breastfed. I could look into the eyes of a contented little troll, and him back, whereas she had to bury his face in the boob as they both painfully struggled to get a latch that would only last a few seconds. A few extra minutes preparing the bottle works great for me. Plus, the moment I press the button on the milk-machine he knows what's happening and starts getting excited about his food (love it).

5 - What is the one must-have item for a daddy?

Definitely a baby-carrier. Along with a baby-essentials waist-bag, the carrier gives you so much freedom to travel around and meet people whilst looking after the little guy. He loves it too! Either to sleep when you're on the move or to look at the world.

​We have a BabyBjorn, although there are lots of good ones to choose from (Bjorn is bear in Swedish so we didn't really have a choice for our Swenglish Little Bear)

6 - How many kids do you plan on having?

Depends on how much sleep we get the night before, but roughly between 1 and 6

7 - Lads’ nights? How often do you have them?

Still waiting for one since Little Bear was born! But I'm expecting maybe a couple before the year is done.

8 - Your child’s favourite achievement?

Blowing raspberries. I know when he's awake in the morning because he starts blowing fart sounds with his mouth. Priceless.
​And giggling. From his first ever giggle to his latest, he always gets bored of his giggling before I do.

9 - What is your best memory with your kid?

Really hard to say just now (they're all quite blurred together). A lot of dads say they were overwhelmed with joy from the first second their baby was born. ​I was really happy, protective and excited those first few hours, but also really exhausted

But that first night I was on a mattress on the hospital floor and Little Bear was crying in his cot next to mum, so I picked him up and laid him next to me. I remember he stopped crying in an instant, his big eyes looked at me fascinated as I was whispering to him, and he fell asleep. I bit soppy but I love that memory (my wife will nod as she's heard it about 100 times).

“my heart melts when a sad Little Bear stops crying as he's handed to me and wraps his tiny arms round my neck before resting his head on my shoulder"

10 - Name one thing you miss since being a daddy?

I think having a first baby is like changing job, but 100 times more intense. You have to say bye to people you liked working with and things you liked doing, but you move on to something even better (and very different), and you never really look back and say 'if only I was still doing that other thing in my old job'. It was great having a lot more freedom and flexibility to eat out (we use to a lot) or travel with very little notice, but I'm enjoying all this new stuff too much to really miss any of it.

11 - Weight gain, before pregnancy, during, after and now? And we mean YOU DADDY, not the mummy!

I put on a couple of kilos during pregnancy as our meals got much bigger, and didn't lose it for the first 6 months whilst my wife was on Parental Leave (no chance of a morning swim during pappa-bebis tid. But now I'm on Parental Leave, I find my lunches at home are really small (anything I can grab from the fridge that involves no effort) and when eating out, I only ever buy sandwiches as it's the only thing you can eat easily with one hand. I used to hate sandwiches, but if he gets in a mood and needs carrying, then a one handed meal is the only way to eat. As a result, I feel my weight may have dropped a little.

12 - Dream holiday with your kid?

I had lots of great travel plans for my Paternity Leave with Little Bear. These have now shrunk, but there are loads of place I want to take him around Europe (from Norway to Italy) and in Asia when he's up for the long-flight. Really want to show him the world. I guess it would be a long holiday that would mix a big city and lots of exploring the countryside, and would have to have loads of great food for him to try.

13 - Dream holiday without your kids or even without the other half? (You’re allowed to dream)
 
Hehe. I'm quite a family guy, so I'd prefer to take my wife and Little Bear with me as I got lonely when I was travelling for work. But I've also really enjoyed a lot of holidays with just friends around Europe and England. So ideally, if we couldn't take Little Bear, I'd like to travel with my wife and a few other friend couples, maybe renting out a villa near Florence around Easter time.

14 - How has your life changed since having kids?
 
It's been the biggest change I've ever experienced in one go, save maybe being born myself. There's no way I could have prepared for the level of change. But after the initial taxing and exhausted shock to your system, and the realisation that all that stuff about you no longer being free to do the things you want to in the evenings was a huge understatement, you start to settle into your new life. And you feel all the better for it. 

15 - Finish the sentence “It makes my heart melt when…”
 
"... when a sad Little Bear stops crying when he's handed to me and wraps his tiny arms round my neck before resting his head on my shoulder"

16 - Favourite beers brands and football team?
 
Having lived in Belgium, I've tasted a lot of beer and loved (nearly) all of it. I'm also up for trying the craft beers in any pub I visit. I really like Bavarian beers as well for the crisp simple tastes. But, maybe feeling a little patriotic, I tend to opt for my local Meantime Pale Ale or Lager (depending on the weather) if I get the choice! As for brands, I've got a soft-spot for Swedish brands, and not just Ikea! They tend to be good quality for good prices.

17 - Huggies or Pampers?
 
Pampers. I've had some bad experiences with own-brand nappies I never want to repeat, and Pampers have worked really well so far (especially the night-time ones so I don't have to get him excited at night with a nappy change). Having said this, we haven't tried Huggies, so who knows, they might work just as well!

18 - Have you always wanted kids?
 
Absolutely. I've been nagging my wife for kids for the best part of a decade now. Luckily she's a lot more sensible than me and we waited until we had good careers and owned our house. But I've always known I wanted kids, probably from enjoying looking after my little sister a lot when growing up.

19 - Best part of being a dad?
 
Baby giggles. For Little Bear this involves a huge smile and what sounds like a very hearty yet high-pitched cough. Makes managing sleepless nights, tiredness hysterics, and poo explosions all worth it.

Nominate three daddies
 
I nominate @blogger_dad @calmdad1 and @NigeHiggins4