As a dad, I have a strong compulsion to tell (bad) dad jokes. Ideally puns. All the time. I didn't used to be this way.
Are your kids teenagers already? Telling them in front of their friends is 10x better.
Becoming a dad changes men's brains
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Re: Becoming a dad changes men's brains
#32Re: Becoming a dad changes men's brains
#33Read the whole article expecting it to explain how it would have changed, was disappointed to not read that.
Re: Becoming a dad changes men's brains
#34Becoming a new parent I knew I'd sleep less and be tired all the time but what I didn't know was simultaneously how much energy I'd have to keep going. It's almost like low grade, months long adrenalin rush. Very strange.
Re: Becoming a dad changes men's brains
#35Exaggerating a bit, I felt like my old self was dead and I just happened to somehow have inherited his memories. But a more concrete thing: While before I might have been saddened about bad things happening to kids, like any normal person would, after having kids myself I experience an stronger reaction: I get almost physically ill when I hear about kids getting harmed.
I was surprised how sudden the change was - I didn't become a dad to my kid, I became a dad to all kids within sight or sound . Sure, most of the time I don't have to do anything, but I certainly notice much more now.
This. Also, the feelings have become stronger as I age.
Re: Becoming a dad changes men's brains
#36learning or doing anything "changes your brain". that's how learning works. i hate this phrase and how it's generally used for scare-mongering headlines.
This is not mere learning, must have some kind of pre-wired special mechanism because it's very quick and very strong.
Re: Becoming a dad changes men's brains
#37learning or doing anything "changes your brain". that's how learning works. i hate this phrase and how it's generally used for scare-mongering headlines.
First, this is true - learning or doing anything does change your brain. This article isn't talking about just that.
I personally don't think it's meant to scare-monger, either - although I'm sure opinions may differ on the subject.
What is unique about being a dad is having a living breathing creature depend on you. There are hormones exchanged. AND you're learning and doing something. AND you're remembering (and having to deal with) your own childhood memories. And realizing that in your memories, you were the kid ... now you're the adult. It's different.
Re: Becoming a dad changes men's brains
#38Fascinating how things that are most relevant to continuing your species are the things with the hardest coded behaviors.
Re: Becoming a dad changes men's brains
#39Earlier quoted context omitted.
With the first kid you sterilize everything. After that I guess you learn how much dirt they put in their mouths and don't bother.
I have 3 kids. When they started on solids: #1 got fancy home made baby food, like cheesy chicken broccoli frozen into ice cube chunks. #2 got steamed yams and crackers. #3 got whatever we were eating, ripped into baby-sized chunks. All are fine.
It's likely that your number 3 child is both the smartest and best looking. Not sure what that has to do with diet but it can't be a coincidence
Re: Becoming a dad changes men's brains
#40Exaggerating a bit, I felt like my old self was dead and I just happened to somehow have inherited his memories. But a more concrete thing: While before I might have been saddened about bad things happening to kids, like any normal person would, after having kids myself I experience an stronger reaction: I get almost physically ill when I hear about kids getting harmed.
Same here, I can't even read articles on BBC about child abusers, it makes me nauseous just to skim over a title.