XX VS XY

   For the next 5 weeks or so, I'm in a unique situation.  I have no idea whether my child is male or female.  This is ideally the only time in my child's life where I will have this particular issue, so may as well explore it now, eh?  I had a feeling that it would be a boy until I was kindly informed that "Paternal Intuition" is not a thing.  For the next few weeks we'll wonder what we're having and then we'll find out and all the wondering and weighing pros and cons will be absolutely for nothing because we'll have what we're going to have.  What this means is that really any thought into what I'd rather have is an excercise in futility.  So let's begin, shall we?

ROUND 1: GIRLS

    PROS:

• Little girls are so adorable!
• It would be my goal to raise a smart, independent, self possessed girl who didn't take crap from any boys.
• I would love to have a little princess to dote on. 
• There seems to be a special relationship between a girl and her daddy for her entire life..

    CONS:

• Oh gods, the stress. I would worry so much.
• I would be the basis for all of her future male relationships.
• I don't know that I could contribute in any significant way to disciplining my daughter since everything she did would be perfect and precious and adorable. 
• What if someone is mean to her or hurts her in some way?  I wouldn't do well in prison.
• Boys.  I was a boy.  I know their motivations.  This gives me cause for concern.

ROUND 2: BOYS

    PROS:

• I was a boy.  I know their motivation. This gives me the advantage.
• How fun would it be to have a little buddy to show the wonders of geekdom?
• It would be my goal to raise a respectful, open minded and compassionate young man.
• Burping contests.

    CONS:

• What if he expects me to know "Guy stuff"?  Like playing football, fixing cars and how to talk to women?
• Puberty is gonna be gross.
• My genes have "jock" in them.  What if my son is into sports and stuff?
• What if, on the other hand, I get my son into Star Wars, D&D and comics, and he ends up being a weirdo?!  Unlike his old man, who obviously evaded that particular stigma.... Okay, hush, I don't want to hear it.

CONCLUSION

    It doesn't matter!  Didn't you read the opening paragraph?  We pretty well established that up there.  No matter what happens, I'm going to love this kid more than anything.  They'll be my little girl/guy, my best buddy, my little princess/prince, my whole world.  If anyone hurts him/her I will not be held responsible for my actions.  I can't wait to show her/him "Star Wars" for the very first time.  He/she will go running with me all the time, we'll have an annual date to go to the Ren Faire and I'll teach her/him to play video games.  No matter whether they're a boy or a girl, I'll teach them to be open-minded, compassionate, caring and wonderful.  Because girl or boy, gay or straight, jock or nerd, he or she will be my child and I will love her or him forever.

Exciting Expectant Father Aspect of the Week:  I recently ran a Zombie Themed 5K in St. Louis.  It was so much fun that I decided when the kid is old enough, I'll let him or her pick one "Destination 5K" a year for us to run together.  Bonding time!

 

Congratulations, Daddy

     3 months ago, a batch of cookies changed my life. They weren't the world's most delicious cookies.  I mean, I don't want to mislead you, they tasted just fine, but the quality of the cookies isn't really the point.  The cookies were great, can we move on?!

     Taste levels aside, there was something very special about these cookies.  These cookies bore a message.  The message was "Congratulations, Daddy".  The next few seconds stretched out for what seemed like hours.  I stared at the cookies, those last five letters jumping out at me.  "Daddy".  Me.  Daddy.  Papa.  Pops.  Father.  The Old Man.  The Big Kahuna. Big Poppa.  Padre.  The Dread Pirate Roberts.  The responsibility that comes with those titles is a bit daunting.

    I've always known I would be a dad one day.  Since I was a kid it was just something that I knew.  The sky was blue, the Green Ranger was the coolest and someday I was going to be a dad.  When my lovely wife and I would talk about the future, it always included kids.  Even still, reading those words was a massive moment.  What kind of dad would I be? Cool?  Fun?  Stern?  Protective?  And even more importantly, what kind of kid would they be?  Would they be nerdy?  Would they be a jock?  Would they be funny and outgoing?  Serious and introspective?  Or some combination therein?  I suppose that's where the answer to all these questions lie. But how does one contemplate these issues in the 21st Century?

You start a freakin blog.

     So here goes.  I'll be checking in from time to time, sharing stories about what it's like to be an expectant dad.  I'll tell you silly or embarassing things that my lovely, pregnant wife does or says ("I can't snuggle because I've got too much blood!!!") Someimes I'll solicit  advice from any of you grizzled old veterans.   So there's our mission statement.  Let Project Ferris V 2.0 begin!

Dad element of excitement for the day:  Themed Halloween Costumes.  I'm thinking either Chewbacca with C-3PO or Luke and Yoda.