| For most men, the prospect of fatherhood | | | | dads are better prepared to take on the role |
| jolts them out of their Carefree Romeo days. | | | | of a dad. They are at a stage when they have |
| While some dads may not receive the impact | | | | mastered the skills of interdependence, and |
| during pregnancy, their world goes topsy - | | | | therefore have no fear of losing their |
| turvy the moment they find themselves holding | | | | independence. Older dads also tend to be |
| the newborn. The transformation does not end | | | | better off financially, having concentrated |
| there. The journey to parenthood after that | | | | on their career in their younger days. Their |
| continues to have a greater impact upon men's | | | | focus, therefore, is usually on how they can |
| sense of purpose and meaning in life than any | | | | be great dads to their kids. |
| other transition that they face. The impact | | | | |
| is greater on younger dads because they are | | | | Researchers have found that older dads are |
| still kids themselves. They are faced with | | | | more involved in child rearing compared to |
| this challenge when they still in the process | | | | younger dads. This provides a great advantage |
| of building their own sense of identity. | | | | to kids. It has been found that children of |
| Fatherhood also comes to them at a time when | | | | involved dads mostly do well in life. Such |
| they are at a crucial stage of building their | | | | kids usually have greater self-esteem, more |
| career and finances. | | | | confidence, greater sense of security, better |
| | | | ability to handle stress, and the ability to |
| Fatherhood, therefore, leads younger dads to | | | | empathize. Older dads are also more |
| end up thinking about their lost sense of | | | | nurturing, warmer, and more generous with |
| independence. They now feel fenced in by the | | | | affection. Some of their gentleness may be do |
| responsibility of fatherhood. Secondly, | | | | to a drop in testosterone levels, but |
| because they may not have yet built a strong | | | | regardless, they are mellower, more relaxed, |
| financial base, they are faced with the | | | | and appear to be much calmer in their |
| prospect of making ends meet with the | | | | parenting. Researchers have also found that |
| increased expenses. | | | | older dads are three times more willing and |
| | | | more likely to share in the daily child |
| Older dads tend to worry before childbirth, | | | | rearing tasks, including diaper changes, |
| fearing complications like autism, which are | | | | feeding the toddler, and putting the kids to |
| more likely for older dads. However, once the | | | | bed. |
| child is born and the baby is normal, older | | | | |