Dad Life...Oh, Snap!!

Yeah so it is finally starting to set in that THIS guy is soon going to be entering the father hood stage of life.  I have been actually thinking about this day for much longer that I probably should.  My wife often tells me that I must have been blessed with a little estrogen when I was born, because I like the things that most guys do not.

I enjoy things like writing, painting, and romantic movies, heck I even cried at the end of Rudy!  I am not quite sure why, but in my little "Michael World" there were different levels of family success and becoming a dad, was like the be all end all.  All of my buddies think that I will be a great father, and I for the most part agree.  It is a very exciting time for me and my wife.  My mom of course things that this is way past due.  Her oldest child nearly 40 JUST NOW having a baby, while my little sisters beat me to the punch about ten years ago.

I knew that as the day got closer for my baby to arrive that I would have to go to these pre birth classes, and because of my oversensitive side, my wife was sure that I would not be able to handle the video's and some of the content introduced during these 5 Monday night classes.  What people may not know for sure is that I like a good challenge.  When you tell me, that you know that I am going to do something one way I like to do just the opposite.  I had to take a foreign language in college and had no interest in spanish so I decided on Chinese!  My parents were less than supportive and thought that I was WAY in over my head.  They wanted me to be sure that if this was my course of action, I could handle the class and get at the worst a C.  Well I accepted the challenge and put forth a great effort and pulled a B+ out of the class.

It was with this same mind set that my wife thought that I should be prepared and brace myself and she let me know ahead of time where the bathrooms were in case the videos were to graphic.  Good Lord above, they were graphic and probably more than any couple should have to see their first class in, but I will have to admit that I was a Champ!  Handled it like a pro.  Although she probably could have gotten some laughs from her fellow teachers at school, if I would have lost my dinner, during those evenings, but I took it more as a challenge, to be the most knowledgeable and prepared husband in the class.

If you are a new father to be, I would recommned The Expectant Father  by Armin A. Brott and Jennifer Ash.  This has been my pre baby bible for the last 8 and a half months and it is DEAD ON!  I think if you were a fly on the wall at the school my wife works at, and you heard her conversations with the other mommy's to be there (8 in ALL), she would probably give me a few shout outs for reading the book and being interested in the appointments. (fellas I will blog about this later, but the 9 months leading up to your little bundle of joy being born, our very important, and being there at those appointments with your wife, are very beneficial to you as a soon to be father.

July 4th is the big day, but the baby may be here a little sooner!  I will keep you posted!  Thanks for reading.

The Amish Giant

Many people ask me where the name Amish Giant comes from. The name originated at one of the first schools I worked at post Eckerd Youth Alternatives. It was actually given to me by one of the baseball coaches. It is in away ironic. I'm not sure if they ever knew that my grandfather was actually from an Amish community. I grew up miles from an Amish community and respect that life style. I am not sure how HE came up with the nickname, but it is one that is fitting so therefore I have decided to embrace the name and run with it. So this blog is is my attempt to fulfill a life long dream and passion. I hope you can take this journey with me. God willing, one day I will find my work in print as a hard copy. Thank you and God Bless...