Embracing Fatherhood: The Journey of New Dads

Style is a powerful thing. It is a statement, a signature, a defining characteristic in our outward appearance. It is the first thing that people notice about us. The beauty of parenting is that it provides an opportunity to redefine our own personal styles. To find new fashion pieces that not only make a statement but also reflect our new roles as fathers.

Paternity leave is a time to not only bond with our kids but to also reconnect with ourselves. To step back from our everyday lives in order to understand our new priorities and the roles that we now play as dads. It is a luxury that I have recently discovered through my own paternity leave at home.

Many habits will change in our early stages of parenthood. But the way that we dress ourselves is not likely one of them. We dress in a way that is comfortable, practical, and most importantly able to withstand drool, morning spit up from breakfast, or even the chunks of vomit that come on those bad days. Fighting this battle is a war against the smell of body odor that is taking over our homes. A smell that denotes an exhausted dad who has been wearing the same shirt for three days in a row.

This is why I am a fan of the highly versatile hoodie. They are stylish, comfortable, available in many different styles, and can be found in just about any color imaginable. A good hoodie absorbs bodily fluids. It may not be the most glamorous article of clothing in the world, but it is a staple for many fathers like myself.

At least it was a staple for prior generations of dads for some pretty obvious reasons. However, the new generation of dads are generally more pampered than those from generations past. Our laundry days, we use softener and detergent for everything. What was the original purpose of a hoodie, as stated above, is also its downfall now.

The smell of vomit, if not extinguished with the power of industrial strength detergent, penetrates deep into the fabric fiber and sets up camp for far too long. These are the discoveries that new dads face when they step back and actually pay attention to their surroundings.

It is a blessing and a curse, like many other things in life. However, it is not the only struggle that arises during paternity leave. Keeping an educated knowledge of the world is one of the necessary evils of being a parent. It is also the pillar of what fathers need to know in order to get through a day.

Most pundits preach the understanding of labor rights and how to obtain them. This is something most individuals easily understand as they believe it to be a universal understanding. Paternity leave is different. Men are still viewed in many circles as secondary parents. Dads don’t have the same rights to parenting leave as women do. But there is another secret. The secret lives in the State of Florida.

If you are employed by a company in Florida, you will be understanding of the legal rights that employees are afforded. If you are not, then you better get to studying. For instance, did you know that as a father, you have just as much right to paternity leave as your co-workers do? It is true. Companies across the U.S. are required to provide similar benefits for both fathers and mothers. This is a law that holds true in all 50 states.

There are many more intricacies of the law when it comes to paternity leave. For a deeper dive into the specifics, check out this comprehensive guide on Florida paternity leave laws.