An image that is likely to be repeated in thousands of homes (I hope so), but that deserves to be disseminated because it symbolizes much more than it shows: co-responsibility in parenting. Yes, yes! Parents are needed to take care of the baby while mom takes a well-deserved nap, but not be punctual.
Because fatherhood is not just "helping mom", it is a shared commitment in equality. Most of the responsibilities in childcare usually fall on the mother, a weight that is too heavy for a single mother. But it is not that the father only lighten the weight one day and the next day everything will be as before. It is about talking and organizing so that between them the raising of children is more bearable.
The photo family
The photo was shared in Imgur by the father, accompanied by a beautiful message:
"After winning a battle against testicular cancer, we finally got our first child last year. Real men take care of their baby while Mom takes as many naps as she needs. She has been through an ordeal. Be the husband of her dreams. "
The photo seems beautiful, a symbol of the new fatherhood. But as I said before, it shouldn't be something flashy or "special," just one more family scene. Nor should it be the exception of one day, in plan "Come on, honey, you are very tired. Today you take a nap that I take care of the baby". That it doesn't help much if nothing changes in the background.
It's not helping, it's being a father
Many men (and women) say that the father "helps" with caring for the baby. He changes diapers sometimes, bathes him occasionally and feeds him some nights. Caring for a baby is really tiring, but between two forces can be joined to make it less hard. Today there are many women who work outside the home and at the end of the workday, they start work at home: laundry, ironing, food, homework and much more ...
If there is a small baby at home, it is impossible to be able to do everything. And although the woman does not work outside the home, it is also very hard. That is why the woman should not feel that "she does nothing all day" to carry all the responsibilities behind her.
Fortunately, old maternity models are changing and more and more parents are taking responsibility for equal parenting and are involved in the care of children's day. They do tasks that years ago was only maternal land such as taking them to the pediatrician, attending school meetings and daily care routines such as baths, food, diaper changes, walks, games and others.
Mother's rest is vital. Just as it is to know that you have unconditionally the involvement of your partner to share the upbringing of the children. It is often not easy to ask for help when they feel overwhelmed by the situation, and the ideal is not to reach that point of "no more power." Maternal wear and fatigue lead to isolation and increase the risk of postpartum depression.
Every couple should look for the best way to organize at home so that responsibility is shared. How family dynamics will work when there is a baby (and in some families other children) that need 24-hour attention.
