Lakoste = Dad?

Lakoste · 05-09-2009, 05:48 PM

We found out a few days ago, my wife is pregnant with our first child. We've been married a little over a year and I think we're both ready (or as ready as we're going to be). I've always wanted kids so I'm on cloud nine right now. Any advice from other parents on the board so I don't mess the kid up too badly?

hollywood9826 · 05-09-2009, 05:54 PM

Congrats dude.

I'm not a parent myself, but from observing my two close friends, I can see your not very much different than them. The fact that your eager and ready to be a parent is the most important. I think spending time with them is the most important part.

Congrats again dude.

charliefedererer · 05-09-2009, 06:03 PM

Congratulations!
Parenthood will be the greatest journey in your life.
Enjoy.
Don't be surprised when that personality and knowing look is there from the first day.
Spend as much time with your kid as you can. Believe it or not, you'll pick up cues from their reactions as to how far you can take your mutual learning process. Just never underestimate how attentive your kid is and his potential to grow.
Again, congratulations!

S H O W S T O P P E R ! · 05-09-2009, 06:10 PM

Congrats, man. Make sure your kid gets his/her hands on a racket asap.

Mick · 05-09-2009, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S H O W S T O P P E R !

Congrats, man. Make sure your kid gets his/her hands on a racket asap.

i heard most of the top players started playing tennis when they were 3 years old

cghipp · 05-09-2009, 06:46 PM

Congrats! No advice - you'll figure it out. Our second child turns one year old this month. Babies are hard work (especially at first), but so much fun!

charliefedererer · 05-09-2009, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S H O W S T O P P E R !

Congrats, man. Make sure your kid gets his/her hands on a racket asap.

One of my friends showed up at the hospital the day my daughter was born with a mini tennis racquet. I still have the picture with her "holding" the racquet that first day. I got to spend a lot of time with her and my other daughter on the tennis courts. I'm glad that both still enjoy tennis and have reasonable technique, but thankfully both clearly have a more reasonable perspective on tennis than me.

ODYSSEY Mk.4 · 05-09-2009, 07:55 PM

congrats bud!
two of my best friends got kids looks like the most fun they've had since back in our party days.
make sure you pass on the tennis bug

again congrats

heycal · 05-10-2009, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakoste

We found out a few days ago, my wife is pregnant with our first child. We've been married a little over a year and I think we're both ready (or as ready as we're going to be). I've always wanted kids so I'm on cloud nine right now. Any advice from other parents on the board so I don't mess the kid up too badly?

Here's all you really need to know in order to virtually never lose your temper with your child, as many, many parents seem prone to do on a frequent basis: Remember how old they are. Staying aware of this has made me almost completely unflappable, from the time my little 2 year old was throwing a tantrum to my now 13 year old screaming her lungs out at me because I made her turn off the TV or something.
Doesn't mean you let them do what they want or don't discipline them (you just do it calmly), but it does mean you remember "3 year old aren't very rational", and "13 year old girls ain't all that rational either, and sometimes are gonna go off on their parents if you tell them no".

That's it. That's all you need to know in this department, and you'll rarely lose your temper. You may even get some amusement out of your kid's occassional awful behavior when you look at it this from this perspective. I have literally started laughing in the wake of some my daughter's fits where she storms out of the room in a huff, whereas I think other parents might have taken it personally or reacted with their own rage.

Oh, and don't smoke cigarettes in front of them. They don't like that.

David_Is_Right · 05-10-2009, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heycal

13 year old girls ain't all that rational either

Hopefully you'll be able to tell me when they start to become rational? My girlfriend is 23; I'm hoping it will be soon...

Joeyg · 05-10-2009, 05:25 AM

Congrats! Get used to these words: Sleep deprivation.

dave333 · 05-10-2009, 05:48 AM

Have your baby listen to Mozart!

maximo · 05-10-2009, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heycal

Oh, and don't smoke cigarettes in front of them. They don't like that.

More like quit smoking as a whole.

heycal · 05-10-2009, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David_Is_Right

Hopefully you'll be able to tell me when they start to become rational? My girlfriend is 23; I'm hoping it will be soon...

I think you can expect girls to become rational somewhere around the 12th of Never.

heycal · 05-10-2009, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maximo

More like quit smoking as a whole.

Yup. Society turns them into anti-smoking types pretty fast.

ilovecarlos · 05-10-2009, 09:37 AM

Kosty! Congratulations to you and Mrs Kosty! I'm sure you'll make a terrific Daddy!

oscar_2424 · 05-10-2009, 09:39 AM

great news Kevin. am sure u will be a great dad.

yodudedudeyo · 05-10-2009, 01:20 PM

Raising a kid is just like raising a puppy that gradually learns how to talk.

Z-Man · 05-11-2009, 06:52 PM

That's awesome. Congrats. Be ready for your tennis game to take a temporary dive. It's nature's way of making sure you don't injure your wife or child. You'll feel less aggressive in general for a few months, but it will pass. (I've been there.)

Also, be warned that your wife might require an episiotomy. Get ready. Don't watch. Just pretend it isn't happening and focus on how happy you are to be a Dad. She's also going to poop. You've been warned. There will also be nurses with KY and rubber gloves. Try to keep a straight face.

Learn to swaddle. Take lots of pictures. Don't forget to stop for a second and burn a wonderous moment into your mind. You'll need a memory palace when you're up all night with a screaming child. Your life is about to change, but it will be the best thing that ever happened to you. Be careful with your back. Parenthood is very demanding--it requires a lot of bending, lifting, and reaching. Congrats. Being a parent is the best thing in the world.

heycal · 05-11-2009, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z-Man

That's awesome. Congrats. Be ready for your tennis game to take a temporary dive. It's nature's way of making sure you don't injure your wife or child. You'll feel less aggressive in general for a few months, but it will pass. (I've been there.)

Jeez, is that true? Federer is even more doomed than I thought.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z-Man

Be careful with your back. Parenthood is very demanding--it requires a lot of bending, lifting, and reaching.

Watch out for tennis elbow too. Holding and carrying babies at various lengths from your body in various positions can be rough on your forearms/elbows.

05-09-2009, 05:48 PM	#1
Lakoste Professional Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 844	Lakoste = Dad? We found out a few days ago, my wife is pregnant with our first child. We've been married a little over a year and I think we're both ready (or as ready as we're going to be). I've always wanted kids so I'm on cloud nine right now. Any advice from other parents on the board so I don't mess the kid up too badly? __________________ "It is scientifically proven that the surface of the wings of a bumblebee is too small to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know this and she flies"

05-09-2009, 05:54 PM	#2
hollywood9826 Semi-Pro Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Havre de Grace, MD Posts: 492	Congrats dude. I'm not a parent myself, but from observing my two close friends, I can see your not very much different than them. The fact that your eager and ready to be a parent is the most important. I think spending time with them is the most important part. Congrats again dude. __________________ Touched by his Noodly Appendage

05-09-2009, 06:10 PM	#4
S H O W S T O P P E R ! Hall Of Fame Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: In your thredz, stealin ur bukkits Posts: 1,939	Congrats, man. Make sure your kid gets his/her hands on a racket asap. __________________ "At Eton, they teach us to wash our hands after using the bathroom." "At Harrow, they teach us not to **** on our hands." - Winston Churchill

05-09-2009, 07:55 PM	#8
ODYSSEY Mk.4 Professional Join Date: May 2008 Location: Redlands, California Posts: 908	congrats bud! two of my best friends got kids looks like the most fun they've had since back in our party days. make sure you pass on the tennis bug again congrats __________________ I Hate Mudslides.

05-10-2009, 05:25 AM	#11
Joeyg Semi-Pro Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Sarcasm, USA Posts: 679	Congrats! Get used to these words: Sleep deprivation. __________________ If you don't have anything nice to say about someone, come sit down next to me!