When did you feel like a 'real dad'?

C

Jun 151 min read

My son just hit the 3 month mark and last week something clicked. I was changing his diaper and he smiled at me and I just felt this overwhelming sense of responsibility and love that I hadn't felt before. Like it finally hit me that I'm actually responsible for this human and I want to be the best version of myself for him. I know I'm late to this feeling compared to some guys but I'm really glad it happened. Anyone else have a moment where it suddenly became real?

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Comments(3)

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MMatt B.RegularJun 15

Three months is when it gets real. Once they start responding to you as a person instead of just a food and comfort source, everything shifts. I remember thinking 'oh this is actually my kid and he knows I'm his dad' around that time too.

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CChris M.RegularJun 15

That moment is the best. For me it was different but similar, around the 3-4 month mark when my daughter first recognized me across the room and started smiling. Like suddenly I wasn't just keeping her alive, I was actually her dad. Congrats on hitting that milestone.

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JJosh M.RegularJun 16

Love this post. Everyone talks about labor and the first weeks but not enough about that moment when you realize this isn't temporary. You're actually doing this. The diaper change moment is perfect because it's so ordinary but the context makes it everything.

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