Our 408th Dad in the Limelight is Dan MacDonald. I want to thank Dan for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing him with all of you.
1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)
Dan MacDonald is my name. I’m on a trial-and-error quest to determine what, if anything, defines me. I’m a dreamer professionally; an aspirant waiting for the perfect cause, but always fearful of the nightmare around the corner. I’m an at-home philosopher, who gets carried away with the political argument.
For the past six months, I’ve taken on a fresh purpose in life – being a new parent. It’s one I find pleasantly all-consuming, so much so, that I write a blog on being a dad (http://thedaddepartment.
2) Tell me about your family
I’m looking at my wife and son playing on the carpet at home as I write this; they’re completely absorbed in learning about one another. It’s beautiful; I’m a proud man.
My wife is an extrovert and I am an introvert, yet we boast the classic hallmarks of bumbling, indecisive new parents. Much of our recent conversations have been focused on how best to raise our boy … with the dialogue always recycling to how our old lifestyle can be maintained in this “new world”. We have kept up our love for travel, having just taken our baby to Malaysia and Thailand, and are intent on dining out as often as possible.
3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?
After only six months I don’t feel overly qualified to answer this, except to say that I was absolutely in the dark in the first two weeks of parenthood. No matter how much I seemed to read, or how detailed our birth-plan was, nothing could have prepared me for what followed on from labour.
Watching my wife have challenges breastfeeding, and not being able to do much about it except for offering moral support, was probably the largest challenge I’ve had to face, merely because we assumed it would be a straightforward and natural process.
4) What advice would you give to other fathers?
To new fathers, my advice would be to get involved in as many aspects of the parenting process as biologically possible, make mistakes and learn from them.
5) How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?
This question makes me laugh as it took me some time to accept that my lifestyle had become very different. An interesting fact: I haven’t had a late-night kebab since becoming a father.
What I have realised in the very short time I’ve been “in the game” is the importance of nurturing the relationship with your partner and family. At our wedding, my mother-in-law drew on her wisdom to say: “invest in one another, and your family will reap the benefits”. As a couple, it seemed obvious and easy. With another person to share in the affection, the time and the love I can give, it is easy to forgo this sort of advice. So, to balance the parenthood/outside life equation, we actively try to set aside time for ourselves (as a couple and individually). So far, so good.
6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?
None of my questions about being a father or worries about parenting are original, and that is comforting. So I’ve learnt that I am not alone, and that there are myriad solutions to any and all of my issues. I am as daunted as I am excited about 2014 being my year of the Stay-At-Home dad, so much so that I am joining my wife’s mother’s group to learn more about this parenting caper. There will be other dads joining, so I’ll be sure we’ll be trouble-shooting together.
7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?
Always wash your hands after changing your baby’s nappy in south-east Asia. I’ve just contracted meningitis and the doctor’s think I may have got it from the little bloke, who may have got it from eating his feet, which could have been anywhere.
8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?
Travelling through Asia, with a teething, rolling and generally uncomfortable infant. “They” told me it would be easy, and that babies were so transportable. Ha.
If you have any questions for Dan, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!
Also, do you know a Dad in the Limelight? If so, please email me their contact information so that they too can be a part of this series!
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Great article Dan.
In reminds me of the time I went to see cirque de solei and the clown was a fantastic juggler of knives, chairs and basically anything the other clowns could throw at him.
Go forth like the clown and be the Dad that you already know you can be. Juggle everything the world throws at you, even the odd knife that may come from your mother in law.