Expectations of fatherhood and parental roles

Expectations of Fatherhood

When a couple is expecting a child, it is common for the mother to receive a lot of attention and advice as to what to expect. Though the reasons for this focus on the mother are obvious -- often hugely so -- this does not mean that the father does not have his own concerns, or that he does not require advice as to what to expect himself. Fatherhood can be a very daunting prospect, especially for men who are not used to being around children. There are also some significant that are likely to occur in the father's relationship with the mother, and in his own priorities and responsibilities.

The first thing that an expectant father must get used to is the idea that there is going t be someone who is absolutely and totally dependent on them. This can seem like a fairly simple thing, but when the ramifications of this fact are full though out, it is seen to be anything but simple. A father can expect to devote the majority of his time caring for his child, whether that is through work that financially support his family, or through the multitude of tasks such as feeding, clothing, and changing diapers that must be done. A mother must face these same tasks, but it is important to stress that the father's role is no less valuable in any of these areas. Expectant fathers need to learn to shoulder the burden of truly living life for someone else. Babies are essentially helpless in all regards, and it is the parents' task to provide the necessary assistance for not only survival, but for an enriching and happy start in life.

A father can also expect his own life to become much richer, even as he notices some of his other relationships to diminish in importance. The amount of the reward the father gets from taking care of his child is commensurate to the amount of time and effort he puts into it. Raising a child is cited by many as the most rewarding and the most demanding task it is possible for human being to undertake. This means that though there is great joy and love derived form caring for a child, there is also a great deal of sacrifice that must be made. There will be less time to spend with friends and even with the mother of the child, as the child's needs will occupy the bulk of both parent's time. This can be especially daunting for fathers, however, who even in these more equitable times are often less at home with domestic chores, and more used to being able to determine their own schedules around their own preferences. With fatherhood, other relationships might suffer at first, and others might disappear altogether.