My wife often makes fun of me and calls me a wimp, or says I am more of a woman than she is. Sometimes, it gets said in not so nice terms. Depends on the situation I guess. The point is not about my wife and I however. The point is that I have been trying to figure out why so many people think I am such a softy these days. “What happened to good ole Johnny T?” they ask. Well, thanks to some smart people at Northwestern University, I think I know the answer. For once, it has become perfectly acceptable, to blame something on the kids.
According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Acedmy of Sciences, a male’s testosterone levels drop substantially once they become a father. Findings that suggest that perhaps, now this might sound crazy, perhaps dads are actually wired to be a caregiver. Dotors and scientists alike are calling these reports intriguing. I think they just need to accept the facts and get in touch with that less manly side.
I am determined to make the best use of these findings though. How can the new modern dad make the best of this recently published study? For one, we can take pride in the fact that we are actually wired for this job, and are proud to be doing it. We can also now have an excuse to shed a tear with our children at the beginning of Finding Nemo. Not that I’ve done that, I’m just using it as an example… Cough… If you are a persuasive male, you might even use it to your advantage when you are sick, claiming your low testosterone levels are making you extra sensitive. Who doesn’t like having hot soup and toast delivered to you on the couch?
I think the most important fact about this study is that it shows that fathers are programmed to be more than just a biological piece of the equation. For those dads who are engaged in their children’s lives, this makes it a pleasure to just be working the course of nature. It also gives basis to encourage other dads to be more involved and more engaged. It’s not a “girly” thing to be engaged with your kids. It’s a little less manly, apparently, but that’s okay.
Next time my wife calls me out on how “not much of a man” I am I think I will let her be right about it. I might even start taking it as a compliment. And of course, when hanging out with the dudes, I will sit around and say “hey man, having kids made me less of a man. There’s a study to back that up now!”