Well, I'm going to be a dad! My wife is 13 weeks pregnant. The baby is due May 1st, 2003! We decided that this was the right time in our lives to start a family. I'm 25 and she'll be 25 in December. We wanted to wait until after school and my wife will finish her Master's this spring and I'll finish my second Bachelor's degree at the same time.

I'm very nervous about being a new dad. I see so many bad parents in the world who think they are doing the right thing. I don't want to be one of those people.

Are there any other new dads out there going through the same types of things?

Regards,

Don

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http://www.benzworld.org/forums/imag...e_steering.gif
1998 C43 ///AMG
1999 C230 Custom 5-Speed Manual

congrat's - make sure you and the wife see eye to eye on raising kids - I can't stress how important this is.

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Jim

As an "old dad", only thing I can tell you is you won't have this parenting thing figured out until your done! Just be patient with yourself and your family. Things have a way of working out eventually. And what engatwork says is right on the money!
Hey, other then that, congratulations!!!!

__________________
past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

Unlike MBs, there is no repair CD on child rearing.

Reason: Every child is unique. While there are some age-defining stages as far as child behavior is concerned, your child will be defined by your unique genetic traits, and the environment he/she is raised in.

You and your child will be learning all about each other, and that's the fun part. You will make mistakes, but that's part of the learning process.

No one starts off being an "expert" parent, and the funny thing is, ALL of the child behavior experts I met have the worst-behaved kids!:p

And as far as advice, there are probably many in your family just waiting for a chance to enlighten you with their "wisdom"...even those without kids!

The only real advice I can give you is to be an active part in your child's life. That's really all they want and need (despite all of the toys and gadgets they ask for). It might seem like a long time, but they grow up fast, get friends of their own, and soon find little time to squeeze you in their busy schedules.

The other thing to add is when you go shopping for baby gadgets, only about 20% of what you see is really necessary!

My daughter is 8 right now, and I have to pencil myself in, even at her age! But what fun we have when we share time together!

Congratulations and good luck!

__________________
2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

Great stuff!
I am proud to say that I am a shinny new dad. My son is now 6 months old and growing rapidly. All of the above statments are from experience, and all seem to be correct in my case. Enjoy the time that you will have, they will never be "that size" again. Every day is new and exciting, you will be great. The experience of being "the parents" is a true team effort. Anyway congratulations, and good luck!

Congrats! I'm sure you'll be a great daddy. Given all the Dads on this forum I'm sure you'll be getting some advice!

Kuan

PAPA!!

Congrats and good luck

Congratulations. Do yourself a favor, don't get them into Mercedes Benz, save them the money.... My father made a huge mistake....

Hello Don:

Congratulations to you and to your wife!! I will say an extra prayer for both of you. Best wishes to you and your wife in finishing up school.

Peace,
Michael.

Don, congratulations ...Dont worry I am sure you will be a great dad simply because you are concerned about being a great dad. Remeber the dead beat dads out there are the one who dont care... congrats again. I too will say a prayer.

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Brandon



2008 S550
1957 Dodge D100
1967 VW Microbus 21 Window
2001 Suburban
2004 Beach cruiser bicycle
-----------------GO DUKE!-----------------

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here." Patrick Henry 1776

Congratulations for you and your wife ! A child is always a bless that is going to change your life 100%. Sleep well this last months... you're going to miss it

And if you need any help or advise, don't hesitate to ask

I myself have two daughters ( 3 & 1 ) so I recently walked the way !

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Ernesto Molina

1993 500E Pearl Black / Alpaca Grey
2001 E55 AMG Brilliant Silver/ Anthracite
2007 SL55 AMG Black / Anthracite

Congratulations man! I hope you and the wife are doing well. I am a new dad too(10mos) and it is definetly a learning experience!

I am 29 and my wife is 28. She is a teacher with her masters and I am a college dropout who is a shipping supervisor in a carpet mill. We have had a few problems since the baby was born one that included a month seperation. She is very book smart yet I am very common sense smart. I know the value of a dollar yet she does not. For example I will say " that new 03' E500 is $64k" and she will say "is that a lot?" I believe in spanking yet she does not. She was never spanked. I am still scared of MY mom. You get the picture. Just make sure you guys are on the same playing field as far as money and discipline ideas go. It will make things easier.

We are very good now. I have grown up a little. I quit drinking beer every nite. She quit smoking. (I have not) I give her a dollar amount every month so we do not go broke. We go to church more often and we try to do more family outings than we did before. We have not yet decided on all the discipline issues yet. She is still too young. Just enjoy being together and blessed that you made this child together. It is very powerful! You feel love you have never felt before. I am ready for another!!


Love your wife and be patient. She WILL get a little crazy after the babies born. My wife now takes meds to help her with some of the issues. Just remember that you have got to be there for them and they ultimately look to you for safety, love, and help.

Good Luck and take care!

later,

__________________
Current stable......
17' Rogue SV 70k
11’ Saab 9-5 NG 94k
10’ e550 4matic 185k

sold
02' e320 210k
00' e430 167k
01' e320 171k (regret sale)
91' 300d 2.5t 300k (sold to ecoofidaho)
79' 240d 177k (old yellow my avatar)
87' 300d 169k (junk but fast)
85' 300tdt 261k (RBM parts delivery)
85' 300dt 68k (one owner cream puff)
82' 240d 250k
84' 300dt 198k (sold to diesel don)
91' 190e 2.3 61k
88' 260e 140k

Congrats!!!!!

__________________
99 C43
98 S420
99 C230K
01 C240

from Joe Golden

"I believe in spanking yet she does not. She was never spanked. I am still scared of MY mom. You get the picture. Just make sure you guys are on the same playing field as far as money and discipline ideas go. It will make things easier. "

I finally gave up on discipline issues with my boys. I got tired of being the "mean dad" in my wifes eyes for trying to make these boys behave and do good in school, etc.... The wife and I are 180 degrees apart when it comes to this. Whenever the school calls to bring up an issue her response is "why are they picking on my boys/it is the teachers fault". My feeling is that the teacher would not be bringing it up if it did not happen.

It rips my heart out to see the way these boys are growing up and to think what they will probably turn out to be. Pretty much like just "throwing them away".

Make sure ya'll have talked this stuff through and have come to some kind of agreement. I suspect that this is about 1/2 of what is wrong with US society today.

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Jim

I agree that discipline is what is wrong with society today. I was never beaten as a child but I was spanked or paddled. I remember being afraid of being spanked therefore I obeyed my parents and their wishes. That is what I mean when I say "I am still scared of my mom." I am not really scared of her, I just respect her and even though I am married and live on my own, I still do what she asks of me. That is if it is a reasonable request.

I remember when I was in school we obeyed our teachers because they hung a huge, ugly and mean looking paddle on the wall. Ocassionally we were tagged with it when we were bad in class. Today teachers can't even have one for show ! The kids act up and all the teachers can do is send em to the office or detention and they love it!

My wife(5th grade teacher) has no control at all of the kids. This year they have stolen her wallet, brought knives to school, drugs, pornography and all she can do is send em to the office and call the police. These kids cuss the teachers and the parents do not care. My wife is gonna teach 1st grade next year after teaching 5th grade for 5 years. Maybe she can influence them at a younger age.

Fear is what kids these days do not have. They are not afraid of adults, teachers, or cops. They think they are invincible and can do what ever they want. I feel strict discipline(spanking/paddling) is what they need to bring a little "fear" back into their lives. May be some of them would straighten up and walk the straight and narrow.

Thanks!:p It feels good to vent a little.

__________________
Current stable......
17' Rogue SV 70k
11’ Saab 9-5 NG 94k
10’ e550 4matic 185k

sold
02' e320 210k
00' e430 167k
01' e320 171k (regret sale)
91' 300d 2.5t 300k (sold to ecoofidaho)
79' 240d 177k (old yellow my avatar)
87' 300d 169k (junk but fast)
85' 300tdt 261k (RBM parts delivery)
85' 300dt 68k (one owner cream puff)
82' 240d 250k
84' 300dt 198k (sold to diesel don)
91' 190e 2.3 61k
88' 260e 140k