Lakoste = Dad?

L

Lakoste

Professional
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

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
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.
 
C

charliefedererer

Legend
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!
 
C

cghipp

Professional
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!
 
C

charliefedererer

Legend
S H O W S T O P P E R ! said:
Congrats, man. Make sure your kid gets his/her hands on a racket asap.
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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

ODYSSEY Mk.4

Professional
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
 
H

heycal

Hall of Fame
Lakoste said:
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?:)
Click to expand...

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.
 
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Y

yodudedudeyo

Guest
Raising a kid is just like raising a puppy that gradually learns how to talk. :D
 
Z-Man

Z-Man

Professional
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.
 
H

heycal

Hall of Fame
Z-Man said:
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.)
Click to expand...

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

Z-Man said:
Be careful with your back. Parenthood is very demanding--it requires a lot of bending, lifting, and reaching.
Click to expand...

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.
 
Swissv2

Swissv2

Hall of Fame
I leave for a while, and you announce your first kid!

Geez, has it really been that long.

Congrats Kev!
 
OTMPut

OTMPut

Hall of Fame
Don't forget to look after you wife - pre & post delivery! I think the "post delivery" phase is very important.

Best wishes.
 
fantom

fantom

Hall of Fame
Lakoste said:
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?:)
Click to expand...

Congratulations. I'm about to have my third (and last) any day now. There are a million things I could say to you, but I'm just going to mention the one thing that I see all too often....

Make sure your kid(s) respect your authority. When they mis-behave and you threaten them with something (going home, no snack, bed early), follow through on it if they don't listen! I see so many parents get run over by their kid(s) because they know that mommy and daddy won't carry through with any type of punishment. To go along with this, pick your battles. It's just not worth it to say "no" to 90% of what they do (even though you want to). Kids are the best thing in the world. Take time out of your busy life and spend it with them. It's what matters most.

OK...that was more than 1 thing....
 
PimpMyGame

PimpMyGame

Hall of Fame
Congratulations! Some things I will mention as you have openly asked for advice:

1. Getting used to the first child is tough. The second time round is easier by comparison.

2. Support your wife as much as is humanly possible with immediate effect. This means letting her put her feet up, lie in, get a rest etc. It is just the right thing to do and it pays dividends!

3. Never make a promise to your child that you can't keep. Conversely never threaten to reprimand if you have no intention of going through with it.

4. Most importantly, enjoy your new found role to the fullest. Every day and every week you will see changes to your child as he or she develops. This is a magical time and due to some stresses which are inevitable you don't always remember everything. Take lots of photos. Turn down the invitation to the pub, there is plenty of time for that later.

I have had two children and have come out largely unscathed. My friends are still there, and the invites out to the pub, or to play tennis are still in abundance. Good luck to all 3 of you!
 
max

max

Legend
Lakoste said:
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?:)
Click to expand...

Make sure you support a newborn's neck. I'm glad for you; my wife and I are hoping for another little bundle, but nothing's yet clicked. I think for me it was VERY interesting in that I feel I came to better understand what love is, through having a child. It's a very deeper thing than a person might initially think.

Motherhood is also very fascinating, and contra contemporary "enlightened" thought; there really IS a deep bond between mother and child, one a father doesn't quite have. It's impressive.
 
L

Lakoste

Professional
Thanks for the advice everyone, it really is appreciated. I'll keep this thread updated with info. It sure will be a learning experience for me though, I've had little or no contact with kids under 10 years old before.


S H O W S T O P P E R ! said:
Congrats, man. Make sure your kid gets his/her hands on a racket asap.
Click to expand...
How about tennis baby names? Wilson? Prince? Babolat? They all sound good to me. I'll pass these along to the Mrs.
oscar_2424 said:
great news Kevin. am sure u will be a great dad.
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What? No quip about the child being a lost cause because I'm the father? You're getting soft in your old age...
Z-Man said:
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.
Click to expand...
Oh my god...
Slicendicer said:
Get a paternity test... and congrats.
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It was actually the first thing I said when my wife told me:lol:
Swissv2 said:
I leave for a while, and you announce your first kid!

Geez, has it really been that long.

Congrats Kev!
Click to expand...
You leave, I get married and I'm having a kid, what have YOU been doing?:)
 
mucat

mucat

Hall of Fame
Congrat!! get a baby swing or vibating bouncer. Unless you have money to burn, get old model (but brand new) strollers are fine, I found they are almost the same as the new gen strollers (just like rackets..) and they are usually half the price.
 
H

heycal

Hall of Fame
mucat said:
Congrat!! get a baby swing or vibating bouncer. Unless you have money to burn, get old model (but brand new) strollers are fine, I found they are almost the same as the new gen strollers (just like rackets..)
Click to expand...

Yes, but unlike rackets, light strollers with low swingweight are definitely the way to go.
 
origmarm

origmarm

Hall of Fame
Congrats Lakoste! I'm in the same boat, must be something in the water :)...

Have you bought the mini racquet yet?

Cheers, Orig
 
CanadianChic

CanadianChic

Hall of Fame
Congrats L. I am happy for you and wish health to this new little addition. Now, don't dress her as a mini Mr. Rogers and the rest will fall into place. ;)
 
scez

scez

Semi-Pro
Good thing I have nothing to do at work or I would not have decided to stumble upon tw and see the great news! Congrats Lakoste, nice to see your boys can swim. If you have a boy name it Aaron, and if you have a girl name is Erin...
 
L

Lakoste

Professional
origmarm said:
Congrats Lakoste! I'm in the same boat, must be something in the water :)...

Have you bought the mini racquet yet?

Cheers, Orig
Click to expand...
Congrats man! No mini racquet yet, I figure whatever I buy now will be old "technology" by the time he/she is born. Since everyone knows that all these innovations in racquet technology make you 2383x better at tennis, it is only logical to wait. :)
CanadianChic said:
Congrats L. I am happy for you and wish health to this new little addition. Now, don't dress her as a mini Mr. Rogers and the rest will fall into place.
Click to expand...
I already got baby sweater vests and boat shoes ready :)
scez said:
Good thing I have nothing to do at work or I would not have decided to stumble upon tw and see the great news! Congrats Lakoste, nice to see your boys can swim. If you have a boy name it Aaron, and if you have a girl name is Erin...
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Scez!! Long time no see. Hopefully all is well with you. I'm sure all the ladies at school have been keeping you busy...:lol: I'll definitely put your name options on my list, as it stands right now Aaron/Erin is one above Soda and one below Seven. It will be a tough decision I assure you.
 
S

sureshs

Bionic Poster
max said:
Make sure you support a newborn's neck.
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That is the most important advice, and should be repeatedly given in place of the usual congratulations and cigar jokes.

"It was a girl. Mother and daughter are doing fine."

"OK dude. Support the neck when holding her."

"My life has changed forever."

"OK dude. Support the neck when holding her."
 
scez

scez

Semi-Pro
Lakoste said:
Scez!! Long time no see. Hopefully all is well with you. I'm sure all the ladies at school have been keeping you busy...:lol: I'll definitely put your name options on my list, as it stands right now Aaron/Erin is one above Soda and one below Seven. It will be a tough decision I assure you.
Click to expand...

Just because you are a "celebrity" on TW, it does not mean that you can go around giving your kids names that will get them beat up and grow up angst like the real celebrities... Nice to see that when I first met you, you were not yet ready to be married, and now you are married and have a kid on the way which is awesome! Hopefully your child will have a boat to use his boat shoes on, I recently bought a pair which are landlocked :( With your nickname and your wife's job, your kid stands little chance of not being preppy :p

oscar_2424 said:
U can't name him Aaron, u don't want your son to grow to a legless loser like scez. :)
Click to expand...

Now that was just uncalled for...
 
L

Lakoste

Professional
Newborn babies are gross looking, I'm returning mine... NOT! :) My wife and our daughter are doing fine, everything still feels pretty surreal.

But seriously, newborn babies are gross. Hopefully my daughter gets into her cute phase ASAP.
 
maverick66

maverick66

Hall of Fame
Did you watch the birth because thats pretty gross. Saw a few videos of that in health class and cant really say i wanna see it live.

And congrats on the kid. Say good bye to sleep.
 
GRANITECHIEF

GRANITECHIEF

Hall of Fame
Lakoste, congratulations on the birth of your daughter. Don't worry about wanting phases ASAP. It seems only yesterday that my daughter was born (and i know what you mean about the immediate aesthetics of newborns) and we just had her 6th birthday party. It goes by way to fast, so just enjoy every moment, even the tough ones. Before you know it, she won't stay put when you lay her down.

My boy, who is 2.5 now, was born at home in our bathtub. That is a pretty cool method as they come out of the water nice and clean. And the water just goes down the drain after.
 
Topaz

Topaz

Legend
Lakoste said:
Newborn babies are gross looking, I'm returning mine... NOT! :) My wife and our daughter are doing fine, everything still feels pretty surreal.

But seriously, newborn babies are gross. Hopefully my daughter gets into her cute phase ASAP.
Click to expand...

Congratulations!!!! :)
 
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