7 Lessons I've Learned After Being A Dad For One Year

Now that my son is about a year old, I've been reflecting about the last year and all that I've learned. Some of it came by simple trial and error. There was other stuff that I learned over time.

The first year of a baby's life is hectic. It's a constant struggle against a growing, demanding baby vs. keeping your sanity. But it can be done. You can do it.

Here are a few lessons I've learned over the last year that I want to pass on to all of you new, full-time dads out there. I hope these help:

1. You will grieve the loss of your old life/freedom that you enjoyed before having a baby. This is a very personal issue. Some people get over it within months. Others struggle with it for a long time. Me? After a year I still struggle with this. However, it is getting better.

2. Don't blame your baby on the frustrations of being a new dad. There's a huge learning curve. It's not the baby's fault. They just do what all babies do. Remember that nothing lasts forever. As frustrated and stressed out as you might become, do not take it out on your baby. That is the worse thing you can do and will only cause further, more serious problems down the road.

3. You must be able to put the stuff you want to do (both short and long term) on hold to care for your baby. This could mean putting off eating dinner until after baby goes to bed. Or even slowing down on some of the hobbies you enjoyed before baby was born. This comes with the territory.

4. Sleep becomes a scarce commodity. This is especially true for the first few months when your baby will be waking up for all those nightly feedings. Their schedules are erratic. Try to sleep whenever you can. If your baby takes a nap during the day, take a nap at the same time. Those dishes in the sink can wait.

5. Take care of yourself! This is probably the most important part about being a full-time dad I've learned over the past year. You can throw yourself into taking care of your baby and put in some long hours.

But you MUST care for yourself as well. This means eating properly, getting some exercise and doing things for you. Get a babysitter or have your partner take care of the baby for a few hours while you go swimming (this is my stress reliever) or to the gun range.

6. Don't be afraid to ask for advice from other parents. Most are more than willing to give you advice and/or encouragement. I've always liked talking to moms with kids who are a little older than my own son, so I can know what I need to prepare for and how to deal with any current issues.

7. Offer advice and/or encouragement to other new parents, especially after your own baby grows and you gain experience and confidence. Just saying the words, "It gets better" can be a big morale booster for a lot of people. It was for me.

There are a lot more lessons I've learned over the last year, however, these are the ones I feel are the most important.

I have no idea what to expect for my son's second year. But I do know that after getting through the "baby phase" I have the confidence I can the second year will be a little less stressful.