Most people would admit that mothers have it pretty rough when it comes to parenting. Whether you are a working or stay-at-home mom, women tend to shoulder the brunt of parenting. However, some modern dads are stepping up to the plate to help care for their offspring. I can easily include myself among this growing number of males who are taking on more responsibilities in their roles at home.
Raising children can be stressful, particularly when they are in those early years of learning how to walk and explore the world around them. If you ever wondered what it’s like to be a dad, here are just a few of the things I deal with on a daily basis.
Dealing with Chronic Pain
One of the most common things I deal with as a dad is chronic pain. It starts from the moment I roll out of bed. My knees ache from spending hours on the floor playing with blocks. My neck hurts from constantly looking down at my little ones. Perhaps the worst part is the back pain that I feel from lifting my children all the time.
It should come as no surprise that little people aren’t always capable of walking on their own. Sometimes, it is easier just to pick them up and carry them across the house or the store. My local Wasilla chiropractor gave me some helpful advice to minimize the discomfort I feel from carrying my kids. Most of it relates to proper lifting:
- Bend at the knees when leaning down to pick up your child.
- Flex your core muscles as you pick up your child to help protect your spine.
- Keep your feet hip-width apart.
- Lift from your legs instead of your back.
- Hold your child close to your body to prevent too much strain.
Handling my chronic pain is just another part of my daily routine these days. One day, my children will be big enough that they won’t need so much physical attention. Until then, I’m going to employ some of these strategies to help minimize it.
Getting the Kids Ready
Getting the kids ready for preschool and daycare could be an Olympic sport. I hustle around from the bathroom to the kitchen to the bedroom nonstop for hours on end. One child needs to eat her breakfast while the other one can barely put on his clothes. Dashing back and forth to give everyone the attention that they need requires herculean strength and stamina.
The more I pace around the house attempting to get everyone ready, the more likely I am to experience more back pain. All of the stooping, bending, and twisting that I do to get the kids ready really takes another toll on my body. On some particularly bad mornings, I may take a break from getting the kids ready to call the chiropractor for an afternoon adjustment.
Working at the Office
After I get the kids out the door, it’s time for me to head into the office. I sit up nice and straight in my chair to help me focus and be more productive. This is the hardest part of my day because I am exhausted from taking care of the kids by mid-morning. Kids require a large time commitment and tons of attention. It feels brutal to have to focus on the numbers and the clients when I’m working.
I keep one eye on the clock all day long so that I won’t be late to pick up the kids from daycare. Nobody wants to be the parent who forgot their children at the daycare center. Keeping tabs on the clock can make the day go by much faster.
Snack Time
When I bring the kids home, they are almost always ravenous. I have to fix them a healthy snack and get them situated at the dining room table before we can move on to other things. Our afternoon routine is hands-down easier than our morning ritual. The kids are allowed to have free time to:
- Play
- Explore in the backyard
- Watch an educational program on television
- Read
Depending on their age, we may give the children a bit more freedom such as playing at a friend’s house. Keeping up with all of them during this part of the day can be a tricky balancing act. I want my children to have independence but I also need to monitor exactly what they’re getting into. Modern parenting often walks a fine line between detachment and helicopter parenting.
Wrapping Up the Evening
Bedtime is one of the most blissful parts of the day. At bedtime, I can tuck my kids in under the covers and then proceed to have a date night with my wife or binge watch a new television show. Nothing can be sweeter than a few hours of freedom at the end of a long and busy day.
I carry my kids to bed and lean over to tuck them in, once again cognizant of my chronic back pain. We read a bedtime story, give hugs and kisses, and eventually float off into peaceful sleep. Watching them at the end of the night reminds me of just how much I love them.
While not everything about raising children is perfect and wonderful, the good times far outweigh the bad. I would choose to have my chronic back and neck pain any day of the week, as long as it meant I got to be the father to my children. It helps that my conditions are treatable with long-term chiropractic care.
Next time you find yourself wondering what it is that dads do all day, consider how much they contribute. It might just be more than you think.
About Dr. Brent Wells
Dr. Brent Wells founded Better Health Chiropractic and Physical Rehab in Alaska in 1998. He utilizes multiple treatment modalities to help his patients achieve a pain-free lifestyle. Dr. Wells and his wife, Coni, met at the University of Nevada before moving on to the Western States Chiropractic College where he studied. He continues to further his education with new courses on spine and brain health. When he isn’t working hard for his patients, you can find Dr. Wells participating in activities around the community, spending lots of quality time with his family, or playing his guitar.