The Daughter Effect

We are in the midst of another Daddy-Day and everything is going well. Momma is off at work teaching a coaches' orientation class, so it's just Julia and I.

Daddy-Day started last night. Courtney and I have an agreement. The one of us that goes to work earlier than the other gets to sleep more that night. If you are working early, all you need to do is heat the bottle (provided you can be awakened) and then you can go back to sleep. Your partner takes care of changing and feeding.

This system has been working well for us and I say that as someone who 99% of the time works early! Although Courtney agrees with it and I think she is really loving motherhood!

So last night it was my turn to handle "night maintenance" and I didn't mind it one bit. Although, for the first feeding, I think Julia and I both dozed off during the burping process! Not only has Julia changed my mentality about nighttime interruptions, there have been other interesting revelations as well.

First of all, when Daddy and Daughter are out in public, we are the center of attention...at least with women and children. We went to the grocery store today and six different women came up to us out of the blue and asked all sorts of questions. Children act similarly. Men stay away, but I can't blame them. I can't figure out if I'm just cooler or less threatening with Julia by my side.

I also find myself making mental note of people that have children born in the last couple of years. I can't help but think about whether that child and Julia's paths will cross in the future. And when the other child is a boy, I usually just give him a dirty look, just to let him know that I have my eye on him!

Back at the supermarket today, Julia and I were checking out. I was buying several groceries and a case of beer. The beer was the last item on the conveyor and there was no one in line behind me. The checker ran through all my groceries and when she got to the beer she looked at me with a puzzled look and asked, "is this yours?" I think she thought less of me.

That's the daughter effect.

-Andy