Being Dad: How Did You React?
If the 60 blokes in Being Dad are anything to go by, there is no such thing as a standard reaction to one of the biggest bits of news a bloke is ever going to get. Whilst stunned mullet rated high on the list, we noted one “is it mine?”, one “you’re joking”, one “I fell back asleep for 20 minutes”, one “I felt ten foot tall” and several, “how am I going to look after a baby … I can barely even look after myself!”
For some dads, it is the excitement, ecstasy and ultimate success of years of trying through IVF programs, for others it was the shock of pregnancy despite the wife being on the Pill, and for one Queensland lad, a life of petty crime at 17 years old suddenly got a jolt of seriousness.
For other dads in Being Dad, the initial shock was compounded by the news they were expecting twins or even triplets.
Most often the initial, heartfelt reaction is surprise, stun and disbelief followed by happiness and excitement.
For one poor bloke, he found out his wife was pregnant during the middle of her six week trip to Paris — with him sitting at home in Sydney. Another dad is shown a spreadsheet by his wife of how they would afford a baby, followed immediately by the news of the impending baby.
Dads-to-be of twins or triplets describe shock on day one, but on day two being doubly ecstatic.
Whatever the socio-economic situation, the bank balance at the time, or the plans for the future, financial concerns and question marks play a very important role.
For all, there is a moment of realization that the tectonic plates of life have shifted, but very few understand the reality of the pregnancy until the baby is born, or at least until the pregnancy takes a more obvious stage — like the first kick.
However you find out, and however you react, this is some major news that is very rarely followed by the theme music from Family Ties.
The advice from Being Dad is to understand how big a moment it is for your wife or partner to impart this information. For all involved, this is huge news. So whatever your reaction, be calm, smooth and always a gentleman.
Get yourself a copy of Being Dad: The Baby DVD, contact a financial planner to get your insurances and finances in order and attend every obstetrician meeting you can.
To preview Being Dad: The Baby DVD, go to www.beingdadusa.com.
Troy Jones, a native Australian, now based in LA, is the father of baby Matilda, and married to Stacey. All three take centre stage in the surprising and emotional new film “Being Dad: USA”. A law student who runs a small film company, Troy chronicles his progress, fears and joys through pregnancy and the birth. He teamed up with 40 friends from all walks of life across the country from San Diego to Boston and 5 experts to uncover the mysteries of pregnancy and birth, in an incredibly engaging and well made documentary film. The Australian version of the film is now seen by around one third of the pregnant couples in the country, selling 80,000 copies in its first 12 months.
