I believe it was Gandhi who said "If you wish to change the world, first change your daughter."
That may be paraphrasing it a bit but, surely, Gandhi's got to give it up for his Western brother because this PAPA's been hands on ever since the beginning.
That includes diaper changes.
Recently, we've moved into the Size 3 arena, and the results have been nothing short of eye popping.
Or as Ana likes to say "Today Sienna had a massive poo."
This is when you realize you're no longer dealing with a baby but a little girl. Even so, nothing could have prepared me for this morning.
Sienna may be 7 months but this is not 7 month poo staring back at me. This is more like a 3 year olds. Maybe 3 1/2. All long and fully formed. I want to pat her on the back and say good job but this is a two hands operation. Real men need only apply.
Twenty-two baby wipes later, and she's a new girl except now I've got another problem. Apparently, I've made someone jealous. Nikki's staring at me with her Sunday Shit eyes.
I look at Ana for help but she's not moving. The bed's sucked her in.
"Baby, can you take Nikki out today?" She makes a puppy dog face. "Just today."
I hand her Sienna and she says "No, take Sienna, too. It's good for her."
That part I miss. Are we teaching Sienna to shit outside now?
Nikki, meanwhile, wastes no time proving she's still champ. No doubt feeding off seven month's jealousy, she summons something from her pancreatic past and leaves a huge Jackson Pollock all over the sidewalk.
You know when someone steps in dog shit and you think "Sucks to be you." Imagine now it's your dog's shit and you never had a chance to move.
I look at Nikki. "Cruel. That's just cruel."
I have Sienna in one arm, Nikki's leash in my other hand and a Von's plastic bag. I've never felt a plastic bag tremble, but I swear this one's shaking (or maybe it's me) because surely he's thinking "There's no way. No way I'm any match for THAT." Just the volume alone. For that God created Ikea bags.
Juggling Sienna on my back, I squat down to pick up the soupy poopy and can you believe Nikki has the nerve -- the sheer audacity -- to tug on the leash. Jealous bitch!
Sienna's kicking me with her feet, laughing.
Cars are rubbernecking.
Later Ana and I head to Runyon Canyon for a hike. Ana goes running ahead while I follow with Sienna in the baby bjorn. Sienna squeals at all the dogs running by. She can't get enough of them after Nikki's little episode.
On the way down, I see another guy with a baby bjorn. A real guy's guy. Adidas man. His daughter's strapped in tight, smiling. He's with three of his buddies.
This is the change I see. If we were to go back a generation, I think you'd see much less father involvement. It's different now. Guys are getting more involved. And not just by playing catch or being football coaches but the touchy-feely stuff too. They're changing diapers, they're singing their daughters to sleep, they're feeding them and taking them on hikes. This includes my own guy friends.
Just look at all the dads blogging about it. There's even websites.
For awhile it was thought a baby needed her mom and the Dad's role was secondary. I think what we're seeing, though, is that the Dad's role is just as -- if not equally -- important, and it's good to see so many guys stepping up to play this active role.
As for the guys who are still on the fence or just stumbled upon this accidentally, let this be a wake up call. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty.
You don't know half the shit you're missing.
-- PAPA
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Do YOU see more Dad's taking an active role?