Fatherhood. Even for the oldest and wisest of men, it is a scary thought. It is not the same as for a woman. She feels the life inside her and the abstract of new life becomes more real with each passing day as the baby moves and grows. The father can only observe from the outside with wonder and amazement. The closest he comes to the reality of the baby before he/she is born is a kick on the hand as he rubs the mother's growing belly or a kick in the back in the middle of the night.
Fatherhood at seventeen is an even more confusing time than for the mother. Girls mature faster than boys so they can adapt easier. Mothers are born but fathers are made. It is a rare young man that is up to the task of fatherhood but given the respect of a man who is becoming the protector and provider for the love of his life and his baby, I have seen scared boys change into confident young men in a few hours time.
After twenty-five years of delivering babies and teaching childbirth classes, I have seen fathers of all shapes, sizes, and ages. I have seen them treated with comtempt, disrespect, and as little boys who can't take care of themselve let alone a partner and a newborn baby. I found that given respect and the expectation that they will be a helpmate and learn to be a good father with practice and time, they become just that.
The birth of a baby isn't just about the mother. It is the beginning of a new and wonderful life of a family. It is a family in the truest sense with or without legal documents. The making of a father begins in the labor and delivery room by engaging him in helping his partner through her labor. I have seen scared little mice turn into the most proud and beaming of fathers at the first sight of their baby's head and the first few strands of hair seen as the baby is being pushed into this world.
I have seen uncertainty change into arms of security as he holds his baby for the first time, helps put his baby to breast or gives his baby the first bottle, and changes his first diaper. We as humans grow into the expectations set before us. If we are expected to fail, we will and if we are expected to succeed, we will.
The birth of a child is a time of wonderment, amazement, love that is unspeakable because it cannot be put into words, and the beginning of a journey that will forever change the lives of three people. Fathers are not just made but chosen as are mothers.
Before a child comes to this earthly plane, the soul that inhabits the body of that child chooses the mother and father that will give them the opportunities to best learn the life lessons that the child has come to earth to learn, experience and grow from this life time. So, even though the father may be seventeen, he has been chosen because he has special qualities to give to his child and the child has special qualities needed to be given to the father.
Life is a beautiful lesson.
Author notes
I could have written a soppy heart strings tearing story about a seventeen year old becoming a father. I have a treasure troph of such stories but I thought a better story would be how a father is made and how families can be given the very best start ot fulfill life dreams.
A contest entry
- Ok people, this is going to be interesting... by Greeneyes15.
225 points, ended October 6, 2007, 11 entries
• next story in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
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wow this was a very moving piece. it was beautifully written, and definitely unexpecting to when i first read the title. thank you for sharing this
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This was kind of like a long description to what fatherhood is like, and what most men react like when they find out about the baby. I like this kind of stuff...because it's different and unique.
Keep up the good work and good luck in the contest, Skye! -
i acaully really liked this. it wasn't at all the kind of thing i was thinking i'd get with this option, but i liked it none the less. it made me think a lot and it was beautifully written. it was very very interesting. excellent job! thank you so very much for entering my contest and good luck!!
peace7love,
greeneyes
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