There are a plethora of classes under the umbrella “Mommy and Me,” but what many parents fail to realize is that this is a nominal description – not an absolute one. If you were to attend a Mommy and Me class with your baby in the evening or weekends, you’d likely see just as many Daddies as Mommies. There is absolutely no reason you and your baby can’t enjoy a class just for Daddy and Me.

If you’re looking for a way to spend time with your baby, older babies and toddlers have many options when it comes to classes they can take with parents. The central theme of these classes is that Mommy, or in your case Daddy, helps baby through whatever the activity is – swimming, singing, gymnastics, etc… Not only do these classes help you spend constructive time with you little one, they can also set a foundation for healthy learning you can build on as your child matures.

Great Options for Daddy and Me
If you’re interested in taking a class with your baby, look into programs offered in your area by gyms, children centers, and specialty music programs. Some excellent options for fathers include:

• Swimming
• Gymnastics
• Singing
• Music Appreciation
• Dance
• Soccer

It’s a double-edged sword. Mothers beg fathers to take an equal role in childcare duties only to panic when Daddy doesn’t do thing “right.” But is the man’s way wrong? It depends, of course on whether or not he’s following the basics you decided on together in regard to parenting decisions. If he’s simply implementing the rules and playing the way he wants, it’s no need for concern- it’s manly parenting.

It’s a Man’s World
Women are terrific nurturers. Something about a baby and the smell of clean baby skin makes us want to wrap the child tightly and snuggle up close to him for hours on end. So when we hand him off to his father for a few minutes, come back and see Dad has him unwrapped, sprawled on the floor singing bar songs together, it’s no wonder you might be a bit disconcerted.

Different, but Okay
But for the most part, dads aren’t doing anything wrong. He’s just doing things according to his instincts – and men do have instincts when it comes to babies. They are just different from Mommy instincts. Let them play and let him sing – just remind him to edit the words a bit as Junior grows. (Babies can understand words much, much sooner than you realize). Then, sit back and enjoy the show – you might even learn a few new tricks of the trade.

If anyone deserves a present this Father’s Day, it’s the father of your adorable baby. After all, that baby wouldn’t be here without him – even if he still changes diapers with great reluctance. This year, give the Daddy in your life something extra special – a personalized gift from his baby.

Personalized Gifts
Any one can buy candy or a card, but making something personalized is much more meaningful. Even very young babies can contribute to Dad’s gift this year with help from you, so get creative and make something truly special.

Mementos
Moms aren’t the only ones who love pictures and keepsakes. Buy a little jersey for Dad’s favorite team or a junior fishing set and take baby to the local photographer. Get some shots and then frame the print in a suitable manly frame. Dad can bring his personalized picture to the office or just put it somewhere special in the house. If you don the team jersey and pose up with your baby, that might make the picture even more special.

A classic memento is a handprint or footprint of your little one on inside a card or in plaster. Write dad a meaningful message inside a card you’ve created and then “sign” it with baby’s handprint. Make the message from you or the baby. Either way it will have a lot more meaning than something the card store created.

A great deal of attention is paid to the working mom. She is given special status for working and raising children. It is the mom who gets accolades for her hard work and dedication to too many activities and commitments. But she is not the only one working and raising children in a home. It’s time to pay a little respect to the working dad.

The Working Man

As long as stereotypes have ruled our lives, men have had the important job of leaving the house everyday and bringing home a nice paycheck. According to the stereotype, he’s supposed to bring in enough paycheck to pay all the bills, keep everyone fed and comfortable and allow the mommy to be at home raising the kids without having to even think about an office or commute.

Women didn’t like the stereotype, so they changed it. Now men leave the house every day and head to work to bring home a decent paycheck and women have the option to leave, too. Sometimes women stay home, and on very rare occasions the father will stay at home with children, but this is most definitely the exception. In this country, men work. And that work and the paycheck it brings are a special kind of loving gift to a family.

Finding Balance

Some men buy into the Working Man theory so strongly they forget to balance their work with their families. After all they are working to support and show their love for their families, so they keep at it for long hours. But most children and wives will agree that while money and the security it brings are essential, they are not the means of loving expression they seek.

A family includes the dad. And if that dad is spending all of his time at work, he is missing out on the pleasure of his wife and children, and they are missing out on his company. A family is not complete and is not as fulfilling without all of the members.

Take Time…

So working dads must make a conscious effort to take time away from work. Leave the office at a certain time. Declare weekends work-free days. Turn off the laptop and phones until after the children are in bed. Take the family on a weekend getaway. Even if you just take an hour after dinner to play outside with your children and visit with your wife, not only will your life be richer, their lives will be more positively impacted as well.

Creating a baby is relatively simple from a man’s perspective. Becoming a father, however, is much more complicated and rewarding. Fathers have a very special place in a child’s life and the memories created in a first year are some of the most poignant and lasting. That being said, surviving the first year of fatherhood is a bit more complicated than changing a few diapers and playing peek-a-boo.

Your Emotions

When a baby is brand new, most fathers are ready to burst with pride. The birth of their child is almost overwhelming with emotion and more than a few have cried. After the wonder and shock have worn off, other emotions flood in. Worry, doubt and frustration battle with joy, amazement and fascination.

It is perfectly normal to be amazed at your little one and ready to burst with love while at the same time completely exasperated and frustrated when she won’t take a bottle or quit crying. To handle the rougher emotions, simply focus on the positive ones. Take a break to clear your head and come back ready to enjoy your baby even more than before.

Even the most patient and experienced parents are frustrated occasionally by their child’s antics. Be aware that the more experience you have and the more you get to know your baby the easier the rough spots will be. You’ll know how to handle them and have more patience.

Your Games

Fathers are prime candidates for game creations. Something about playtime bonds babies and dads together. Be creative and don’t be afraid to play with your baby. Play games and even roughhouse safely and gently with your little boy or little girl. Don’t save loud and rambunctious games for boys or assume only little girls like to draw and color.

Be loose, and enjoy your child. Make faces, sing songs, dance like a fool and play the time-tested father games. Just remember that it is not safe to throw an infant in the air. Their little necks are not strong enough to handle the jarring landing, even if you catch them gently.

Your Love

Fathers love their children immensely. Too many are afraid to show that love fully and many regret it down the road. Shower your little one with attention and affection. If you have to work long hours, make the weekends and evenings count. Take the baby out alone to enjoy her fully without Mom trying to take over. Encourage your wife to run errands without the baby so you can bond and learn all the little things that make your little one special.

Don’t be afraid to love your little one with your whole being and to show that love constantly. It will not make you seem weak or spoil your baby. After all, your little one already loves you.

Mom is a huge mix of emotions when a baby is coming. The planning, the preparing, the pregnancy are all overwhelming. But she is not the only one involved in this parenthood. The father-to-be is often over looked and he has some very legitimate concerns of his own. Fortunately, he’s not alone out there and there are answers to most of what he’s worried about.

Fathers nowadays are spending more time with their children. In the late 1990s, fathers of children under 5 were spending an average two hours a day on child-related activities, compared to less than a quarter of an hour per day in the mid 1970s. Time spent by fathers with their children accounts for one third of total parental childcare time.
Fathers are more likely to be employed, and to work longer hours, than men without dependant children. It has been noted recently that some fathers even sacrifice their own career ambitions in order to spend more time with their children at a certain point in their lives.

Now lets look at the other side of a coin – men’s earnings. The fact that men’s earnings are generally a higher proportion of the family income than women’s can limit the time men are able to spend with their children. Different patterns emerge where women earn more. Women’s hourly earnings from full-time work are 19% less than men in full-time work - and women’s earnings from part-time work are 41% less than men’s for full-timework. Women’s lower pay levels means that it is mainly women who reduce working hours after their children are born, which reinforces the traditional gender roles in many families. Men are more closely involved in looking after children where the mother earns more than they do. This might mean some problems for men in a so called “Father-friendly employment” arena. Many employers still see flexible working or family-friendly working policies as something for women. However it is not very common in male-dominated workplaces to offer flexible working arrangements than similar to those most women have. Fathers often feel discouraged by workplace norms and culture from taking time off work for family, or expressing a wish for flexible work.

Father’s expectations about whether they would have access to work life balance policies are lower than for mothers. The lack of opportunity for fathers to use flexible work practices to look after children is worrying, as children whose fathers have been actively involved in their lives have better outcomes including: