His Dad Style: Loves you, loves the baby. But how can it be that the kid's a month old, and he still doesn't know which drawer the onesies are in? Sure, he's happy to help, but he requires such precise instruction that it's often not worth the trouble. You are always the one to call the pediatrician because you have the number memorized anyway. When you finally leave the baby alone with Dad (like all the books say to do), you come home to find her in the swing and him watching the game -- just like you left them two hours ago.
Early Warning Signs: If the dishwasher breaks, who calls the repair service? Do you send the birthday card to his grandmother (and does he even know)?
Pros: You get to make all of the decisions.
Cons: Making all of the decisions is exhausting. Some moms, when in a certain mood, might use the word "lazy" instead of clueless.
What's the forecast? He's trainable. And chances are good that he's going to grow into the job, most likely right around when T-ball starts. He may turn into Playmate Dad. While this has its downside (you feel like you have two kids, not one), there are many upsides. You'll never have to go to the fourth sequel of Kung Fu Panda. And picture this: you relaxing by the pool while he plays Marco Polo. Pretty sweet, right?
Originally published in the June issue of American Baby magazine.
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