STAGE 1: Newborn – Childbirth

Defining factor:  A totally helpless child comes into the world.

Observations From 101 Dads of Daughters

• You gotta be there for the birth of your daughter.
• Although not difficult for most—conceiving was difficult for us.
• The delivery was exciting and intense.
• Holding that tiny defenseless child was amazing.
• I had a sudden fear of whether I would be a good father.
• Naming my daughter was an important moment.

HOW CAN YOU MISS THE BIRTH OF YOUR DAUGHTER

“How do you miss the start of your child’s life? It was terrific. Oh yeah, absolutely. I can’t imagine missing that. That’s the most important day of her life. To take care of this helpless life that’s going to rely on you for quite a few years, to make all of the decisions and do all of the providing for her.  You gotta be there at that moment.

Plus it’s probably the most stressful and dramatic event of a woman’s life and she shouldn’t be there alone.”

Ken, 9/11 New York City fireman and father of a six year old daughter and two sons

I WAS SCARED ABOUT WHAT KIND OF FATHER I’D BE

“I think I was really scared during the entire pregnancy about what fatherhood was going to be like and what kind of a father I would be. 

But as soon as I saw my baby come out, I was just blown wide open emotionally.  I was blown wide open in terms of my fathering instincts, in terms of my instinct to protect this child no matter what. And I just was in love and adored her from the moment I saw her.”

Andy, forty-six year old TV reporter, father of a nine year old daughter (recently divorced but remains close to his daughter)