Comments on: Dedicated to Baby http://japanlifeandreligion.com My Life as a Buddhist, Father and Japanophile... Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:56:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/dedicated-to-baby/#comment-4133 Doug Fri, 21 May 2010 20:59:52 +0000 http://level8.wordpress.com/dedicated-to-baby/#comment-4133 Hi Erec, and welcome to the JLR. I'll be honest, there's no easy way to prepare for it. It's quite scary leading up to it, and you either have to take the plunge or spend your time wondering what life would have been like if you did have kids. Also, it's almost inevitable you'll fight with your spouse, but it's important to keep things in perspective and not let it get to you. Fatigue and hormones will just do that to people. :) With that said, if you *do* have kids, the best thing you can do is take parenting classes at your local hospital or college, before the baby is born. It helped me get over the fear of the unknown and made the first few months of parenting a lot easier. Also, it's good to see parenting as a kind of investment, where if you devote time and energy to it, even while giving up old hobbies for a long while, you'll really see your kids grow up beautiful, intelligent and wonderful human beings. I don't think everyone should be a parent, but if you're willing to take the plunge, go all the way. It won't kill you, that's for sure. :) Best of luck, Doug Hi Erec, and welcome to the JLR. I’ll be honest, there’s no easy way to prepare for it. It’s quite scary leading up to it, and you either have to take the plunge or spend your time wondering what life would have been like if you did have kids. Also, it’s almost inevitable you’ll fight with your spouse, but it’s important to keep things in perspective and not let it get to you. Fatigue and hormones will just do that to people. :)

With that said, if you *do* have kids, the best thing you can do is take parenting classes at your local hospital or college, before the baby is born. It helped me get over the fear of the unknown and made the first few months of parenting a lot easier. Also, it’s good to see parenting as a kind of investment, where if you devote time and energy to it, even while giving up old hobbies for a long while, you’ll really see your kids grow up beautiful, intelligent and wonderful human beings.

I don’t think everyone should be a parent, but if you’re willing to take the plunge, go all the way. It won’t kill you, that’s for sure. :)

Best of luck,
Doug

]]> By: Erec http://japanlifeandreligion.com/dedicated-to-baby/#comment-4131 Erec Fri, 21 May 2010 20:40:33 +0000 http://level8.wordpress.com/dedicated-to-baby/#comment-4131 The prospect of having children really scares me. I feel like my wife and I have a hard enough time handling my own life, let alone the life of a developing human being. Your words above help, but what advice would you give someone like me--someone who wants children but is afraid to have them? Thanks. The prospect of having children really scares me. I feel like my wife and I have a hard enough time handling my own life, let alone the life of a developing human being. Your words above help, but what advice would you give someone like me–someone who wants children but is afraid to have them?

Thanks.

]]> By: Megan Gray http://japanlifeandreligion.com/dedicated-to-baby/#comment-27 Megan Gray Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:00:10 +0000 http://level8.wordpress.com/dedicated-to-baby/#comment-27 I could not agree with you more about the joys of parenting. My husband and I have two sons and not a day goes by where we don't think to ourselves "what the heck was life about before this...it's amazing!" Your blog is great...keep up the good work :) Namaste-Megan I could not agree with you more about the joys of parenting. My husband and I have two sons and not a day goes by where we don’t think to ourselves “what the heck was life about before this…it’s amazing!” Your blog is great…keep up the good work :) Namaste-Megan

]]> By: Gerald Ford http://japanlifeandreligion.com/dedicated-to-baby/#comment-26 Gerald Ford Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:41:43 +0000 http://level8.wordpress.com/dedicated-to-baby/#comment-26 Thanks Baek! Yeah, I was deeply surprised by it too. I suppose it's just "monkey see, monkey do" kind of behavior, but it's so funny how kids can pick up stuff like that. Thanks Baek! Yeah, I was deeply surprised by it too. I suppose it’s just “monkey see, monkey do” kind of behavior, but it’s so funny how kids can pick up stuff like that.

]]> By: baekho http://japanlifeandreligion.com/dedicated-to-baby/#comment-25 baekho Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:29:48 +0000 http://level8.wordpress.com/dedicated-to-baby/#comment-25 Your baby is adorable---and I really got quite a kick out of hearing how she'd gassho at a mandala on TV. :D Your baby is adorable—and I really got quite a kick out of hearing how she’d gassho at a mandala on TV. :D

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