When I started Better Dad, I had two simple goals – help men be better dads and good husbands. All my stories have been weaved around these simple goals. Here, I select a few stories and try to explain why I wrote them in the first place.
Connecting with your baby is important for every parent and when that did not happen, I tried few techniques to just be visible in front of my little one. My first story was just about that. It helped me build a bond that has only gotten stronger over time.
I wrote about dealing with money, a topic that is hardly discussed in Indian households. I was never taught about this and the effects are real and long term. I have vowed to teach my kid about money and so should you. Bad money habits affect generations, leaving them to pick up the pieces that you left – that is if you ever left them anything.
My first interview was with an ex-colleague and friend Akshay who spoke about what fatherhood meant to him. I have never known any male who has actively spoken about parenthood. And so, Akshay’s interview was a first. It gave me a real picture of what goes in the mind of a father and I could relate to it.
Moving on to the COVID-19 pandemic, an event so catastrophic that it impacted every person on earth. However, the effect it has had on our children will only be seen in the future. As parks and open spaces started shutting down, I had questions that many parents would have. This story was all about that. All questions, no answers.
Then I got down to some basics. The stuff that fathers must know and take care of when a baby is about to arrive. I learnt this the hard way and do not want any other parent to go through it. Later, I wrote about what fathers need to do post-birth. Year one vaccines is a good read to understand the whats and whys of baby vaccines. Finally, the how-tos. In this story, I went into detail about how to do baby chores - critical for a new father. All these stories are mundane but important. If you know a would-be parent, do pass these articles to them.
I am a part of many fathers’ groups on Facebook and see many well-meaning fathers talking about how they have never been able to cope up with being a parent. Being a father is stressful and the pressure is completely different from what a mother goes through. Here, I wrote about some possible reasons. I relate to every single point here.
Back to an interview and this time it is with a mother who also happens to be my sweet sister-in-law Ishita Rahul. She is raising 2 beautiful daughters and here she spoke about her experience as a daughter and her expectations from her husband. This interview made me proud of my brother. He’s really got it right.
Then a big leap, the very first podcast. Oh yes, I tried a new medium and loved it. In this episode, I spoke with Arya Ghate, a mother of a two-year-old who told her side of the story of being a mother and a wife. Again, here too, her husband has been supportive. New-gen men are getting their act together I feel.
Here’s COVID making an entry again. Since ‘vaccine’ is a household name, I tried to investigate the status of vaccines for kids in India along with some FAQs. Unfortunately, at the time, there was little hope. But today it seems a vaccine is almost there. Let’s wait though.
Podcast number 2. I spoke with Nishita Madan, a physiotherapist and a parent, about physiotherapy for kids. Man, what a revealing conversation. It busted a lot of myths about why we do certain stuff the Indian way. She also spoke to me about what parents should be wary of and what measures to take when needed.
Mistakes, mistakes and mistakes. We all make them but learning from them is crucial. This story touched upon some of those mistakes that men often make. Do not be on the wrong side of parenthood, read this one.
In an interview, Varun, a friend and a recent father, spoke about the ups and downs he has gone through in the short time of being a father. Here, he also highlighted one blessing that today’s parents enjoy – work from home.
And then the big news that had me thinking about my kid’s future – the UN climate change report. It was depressing. There was nothing good in it. It again made me question a lot of decisions that I have or would be taking. You and I will be helpless when climate change gets to us. This is the single most factor that we have no control over as individuals.
Just last week, I had a conversation with a friend Shakti Shetty about why he did not want to be a father. It is a touchy topic and our elders often look down upon couples who do not want to have kids. Why did he take this decision? It is good to always listen to a counter opinion.
I hope I have been able to touch at least one life through my stories. The journey of a father continues 😊
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