How To Be More Than Just A Dad

Part of our self-identity, for men and women, is our careers. People identify themselves with what they do to put food on the table. Even being a stay-at-home dad is a career. It's the hardest, most rewarding job anyone can ever have.

However, changing poopy diapers and bottle feedings every two hours can only take us so far when it comes to our self-identity. As noble and rewarding as parenting is, I think we need to have something else, something that identifies us separately and outside of being a dad.

I'll use myself as an example. My own identity goes beyond taking care of DS. I also maintain two blogs, write fiction and I'm also starting to dabble in drawing and art. And I swim...a lot. These are things that I love doing and even make some money at (except swimming, that costs me money).

Why do you need to be more than just a dad? There are a few reasons that I list below. They are in no particular order:

1. Keep your sanity. As I said before, you need to have something more than poopy diapers and bottle feedings. I say that with a bit of sarcasm because everyone knows being a parent is about a lot more than just diapers - especially when your baby becomes a teenager.

2. Provides an outlet for your many talents. Everyone has something to offer. Whether it's building things, fixing cars, writing, selling knives door-to-door, you can be a dad and do something else. Think of it as moonlighting.

3. Gives you goals to set for yourself. Goals are important. They keep us motivated and moving forward. You can set both short term and long term goals. For example, on of my short term goals include getting blog posts written in a timely manner. A long term goal would to be making a living from writing in X number of years.

There are probably dozens of reasons to have something outside of parenting. I've only scratched the surface. But it is important. A lot of new parents spend so much time taking care of their baby, they don't take care of themselves.

Keep this in mind when you're rocking your little one to sleep. Find something that can be more than a hobby and that you can grow into as your baby grows. It will make life all the more rewarding.