It's both overwhelming and exciting to be a new dad. But we get it; you must have fantasized about this moment. You may even imagine yourself being the best dad ever, being there for your kid every step of the way and solving every problem they encounter. While that is a good thing for you as a new dad, things rarely go as expected, and that includes your fantasies about being the perfect dad.

Being a dad can be tricky, and you'll make many mistakes, but life is a matter of trial and error. If you fail at one thing, you try to solve it next time and then succeed. That's the gist of parenting. That said, even though you read countless manuals about being a dad, it's inevitable that you'll make some mistakes, and that's what we will talk about in this article. Here are some common mistakes you might make as a brand-new father.

Thinking You Don't Need Help

Look, we get it. You want to be that all-invincible dad that can do everything. While that's a nice fantasy you got there, it's just that: a fantasy. We all need help, and as much as we don't like to admit it, sometimes, we just need to reach out to someone and ask for help. Of course, it doesn't mean you failed as a father. It's just your first time, and no one perfects their craft the first time they try it.

When you're struggling with something, you might want to look for people with the same experiences. The first people you should reach out to are your parents because, you know, they were first-timers once. You could also call a friend who had the same experience as you when they had a kid. In short, it's okay to ask for help. It's your first time, after all.

Thinking There's a Fix for Everything

Sometimes, life can be heartbreaking, and you can do nothing about it. Your kid will realize that one day, and instead of suggesting short-term solutions to them, you need to sit with them, listen, and give them words of encouragement or even just a hug. 

Sometimes, when we try our hardest to solve our kids' problems, we forget that maybe they just want someone to listen. As a dad, you should be there for them and always be physically and emotionally available.

Not Being Vulnerable In Front of Your Kids

Sure, we don't want our loved ones to see us vulnerable, as it can feel embarrassing for us. But this is not the way. You might think that them seeing you always being strong is inspiring for them, and sometimes, it can be. However, when you ingrain it in their minds too much, it could become toxic for them. They would realize that they should always look strong and not show weakness in front of others. That showing emotions is a sign of weakness itself.

You don't want this to happen. Instead, what you can do is to make them believe that showing vulnerability is not a bad thing. That it's a part of processing our emotions properly. As a dad, you might think that showing your weakness is a shameful thing to do in front of your kids, but it's a necessary part of their mental development. We don't want them to be emotionally passive when dealing with other people.

Being There but Not Being There

As a dad, 90% of your time won't be for you anymore. Most of your time will be spent with your kids, and that's okay. Being present with your kid is essential, but you should also do it emotionally. 

One of the biggest mistakes a new dad can make is to be there with their kids physically but not emotionally available for them. It would seem like you were forced to be there for your kids. This is wrong. This is because not being there emotionally with your child will make them feel neglected or ignored.

Not Taking Care of Yourself

Being a dad can be so busy that you will soon ignore your well-being. While being there for your kid almost 100% is praiseworthy, you should never neglect your health. You should also care for yourself by exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, and having a balanced diet. 

If you do this, your kids might begin copying you, influencing them to have a healthy lifestyle. That said, if nothing you do is working, you could also try out some medications like vitamin pills or even weight loss meds, which you can thankfully save money on through wegovy savings.

Final Words

Being a new dad is hard. No matter how many guides and instruction manuals you read online, it will always be a tough challenge. Luckily for you, you aren't alone. And by avoiding the mistakes we discussed above, you might just be the best father in the world that your kids will look up to as a prime example.