Support from the Start
By Sharon A.
Fortier-Green
Waterbury VT USA
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 16, No. 6, November-December 1999 p. 223
Some fathers take time to
become comfortable with their new roles. But from the moment we decided
to become parents, my husband has been a wonderful and supportive father.
Eric not only nurtured me
personally during my pregnancy but also attended infant care classes
and read books about babies with me. When we first heard about attachment
parenting in one of our classes, Eric smiled, looked at me, and said,
"That's what I want for our baby." There was never any question
that I would have his full support for breastfeeding our daughter.
Eric held my hand and rubbed
my back throughout my labor. When it was determined that I needed a
cesarean, he was there in the operating room and held Fiona while they
closed my incision. He danced around the room and sang us a little song
he made up, showing her to me. After surgery, he roomed in to help care
for Fiona and me.
When we got home, he took
off as much time as he could to help us get off to a good start. Eric
made meals for me and helped me nestle in with Fiona so I could breastfeed
her without hurting my incision. He would walk around the room and sing
to her when I needed a break - she loved it!
As Fiona has grown, Eric's
involvement has changed and grown, too. When I had to return to work
part-time, Eric was the one to care for Fiona. He showed his continued
commitment to breastfeeding by feeding her my expressed milk while I
was gone, and by keeping up with housework so I could spend more time
with Fiona after work.
His support shows especially
when others criticize our parenting choices. When Eric hears someone
saying that I am breastfeeding her too long, or that we are spoiling
her by picking her up when she cries, he firmly tells them that "Things
spoil from being left alone to rot, not from being loved." He does
this not only so Fiona will grow up feeling protected, but also to teach
her how to treat other people.
Eric's pay-off? Well, when
he comes home his 16-month- old baby girl is dancing, laughing, and
saying "Daddy!" with all of her heart. She gives him a big
hug that makes him glad to be home. Because of the love he shows for
Fiona, I love and trust him more. A special time for us all is when
we cuddle together on the couch. Fiona often lifts her head up from
nursing, gives Eric a milk-covered grin, and proclaims, "Good Moos!"
as she goes back to nursing. Without Eric, I couldn't have done it.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:30:55 UTC 2007.
