Tacklenappy

It's one of those moments that you remember forever, when you tell your family and friends that you're expecting a baby. I still remember the warm and genuine embraces I received from my mum, dad and sister. I recall visiting friends with the sole purpose of breaking our news and thinking to myself 'they know exactly why we're here'...and of course, they acted surprised even though they weren't. Recently one of my dear friends and his partner broke the news that they are expecting their first baby and I can't tell you how happy Quigs and I are to hear the news. There's so much we want to tell them but I don't want to bore them shitless with war stories about my experiences as a father. Instead I decided to write my great mate a letter, one that he can refer back to when the time is right, and you never know, perhaps he'll write me a letter in twenty years time saying 'you were right'...actually, he's more likely to write a letter in twenty years time telling me how I could done the job better myself. But that would be OK, that's how he is and we love him for it.

The alarm went off at 5am and we both groaned as we had been trying to delude ourselves that we would be able to go back to sleep after waking at about an hour earlier. It was cold, raining and it was baby day.

One of the questions we frequently get asked by our  dads is what should I pack to bring to the hospital.  We all know that the only time we (males) prepack anything is when we are going camping and that usually is the car the night before. We also get asked what you should do to be organised so when you jump in the car and do the nervous drive to the hospital you are all set.

I read with interest that Drew Petrie is poised to play footy instead of attend the birth of his second child. We know it’s about personal choice but any sports person thinking of playing on instead of attending the birth, I think you’re making a big mistake. 

At Tacklenappy.com we discuss a lot of different issues relating to parenting and we have decided to debate one of the most contentious parenting decisions especially for dads, whether to go public or private.