Impending Fatherhood

Impending fatherhood.

I haven’t blogged about this much because, well, it is such a private matter that I just tend to keep it locked up. I don’t want to mouth it up too much or blather on about things as some others do while the rest of us groan and think, “Not another story about . . .”

In fact, outside of the few who read this blog, I really haven’t notified anyone at work. That’s fine with me. I’m sure word will slowly spread around the place. It just seems to be something private. Internally, I want to shout it from the roof, but that’s just not me.

I know people who, whenever you see them, they either go on and on about themselves or their accomplishments or their children or . . . well, you likely know some people like that too.

I don’t want to fall into that category. Of course, having a blog is pretty much tatamount to going on and on about myself but my audience here is pretty restricted – basically to just those few who know me and find this type of stuff interesting.

But all of this doesn’t mean that I haven’t been thinking about my impending fatherhood. Kristie came up with the great idea of buying a package of diapers everytime we go to the store, just to stalk up. Given that I’m an overgrown kid, I have now started considering buying a toy for him/her every time I run to the store.

I can’t even begin to explain how excited I am to see her/him grow up. It will be like a second childhood. I just hope I can share all of my toys and play nicely . . .

One thing I will not do, is play video games with him/her. Casey and his dad hours doing this. And that’s great for them, but I don’t want my relationship with my daughter/son to revolve around a TV, a game counselor, and mock violence or sporting events.

That means tossing a football around, teaching them how to bat, foraging through the same woods and trials that I did as a kid, building forts (in fact, we have a great tree in our yard for a tree house), fishing in the river (I know just the spot where I caught my first fish, a rock bass. I have another spot where Dad, Mom, and I went a couple of times. Mom caught three walleyes one evening while Dad and I caught squat), teaching them how to ride a bike . . .

I can’t help but giggle when I think of all the possibilities.

Kristie just smiles when she sees me get excited over something small, like imaging her/him barging into our room in the morning and hopping in bed. She is already an excellent mother. I have a lot to live up to!