A mother's love, her journey and a new mother's tales are well known. There are multiple blogs, books and advices that come your way when you become a mother but fewer for the dad-to-be. What he doesn't know is that his life is going to turn entirely upside down. While a mother too undergoes a huge shift in her lifestyle, we can agree that biologically she's already preparing for the final day, as she carries the baby for 9 months. But what about the father? As people around him approach him with all sorts of advices, nothing can really prepare him except the experience itself. Director and SIT co-founder Mohit Hussein would know, as he welcomed his second child, Arham, with co-founder Chhavi Mittal.
Right from the very first month of pregnancy to the day your baby comes home, a father's role is as crucial as is the mother's. To be the support pillar throughout!
We all know that a mother's love and care is intrinsic. The famous 'motherly instinct'. But where does the 'fatherly instinct' come from? Their need to look over our shoulder through whatever we do and ensure we're safe? It comes through these initial months of learning, trying and failing that his 'baapta' develops. As they wake up with sleep filled eyes trying their best to make sure the mother sleeps through the baby's crying, they learn with each nappy changed and each milk bottle prepared that the journey is hard but the most fulfilling ever. Have you ever asked a new father how it's been going? They always have a similar answer -
“I'm sleep deprived, but it's so worth it just to see her/him smile'”
Sure there will be times when you tie the diaper all wrong, but so can the mother. And sure you're going to feed him/her milk when they're crying only to realize that they just needed some sleep. You may also feel like you're completely unqualified and unprepared for this job, but you're not the first dad to feel that way. As the months pass, you'll realize that you've not only almost mastered being a father but also developed the 'fatherly instinct' you never knew you had.
A child needs both mother and father to meet all his needs. And especially with new-age hands-on dads, the roles of both parents are now divided equally when it comes to raising a child. No longer does a father only become the bread winner of the family, but also takes complete charge when the mother may be away! And for all you know, it’s the father who turns out to be the first one in the house to master the ultimate nappy wrap, or maybe, the better half when it comes to the best back rubs for a timely burp!
Of course each father's journey is different from the other, but one thing will remain constant with each. Which is the need to prepare for your child's future. It begins right from when your wife is pregnant. You start saving money, learning about best schools, best parenting techniques or best nutrients to feed your child. It won't be uncommon to find their search history filled with all sorts of questions which people around can't answer. The only thought that remains is that your child should get the best of everything.
So what journey is RISHI (Karan V Grover) going through as ROHINI (Chhavi Mittal) and RISHI join the rollercoaster ride of first time parents with JAHAAN (Arham Hussein)? Watch the new episode of SIT's The Better Half-S4 to know!
SIT presents The Better Half S4E2 BAAP KI BAAPTA
In association with ETMONEY
Written by
Fiza Anand