I found this module very interesting, enlightening and thought provoking. The first part of the module actually made me a little uneasy to write about. I have heard the arguments from both sides for years. The one thing that confuses me, is that men will argue for one side of the abortion line or the other with so much passion and vehemence that one would think that they were in a church listening to a sermon. So here’s the question… Why? While in a perfect world, the pros and cons would be discussed equally between the potential parents, it is not a perfect world. A man cannot make a woman carry a fetus to term, or force her to abort the pregnancy. I believe that a woman knows what she is or is not capable of, and hopefully they don’t take the decision lightly. I believe that all people need to make decisions that they can live with, men and women alike. I think that the topic of abortion is one place that men need to play a supporting role to their significant other if she allows it, discuss it together, and support the choice she makes.
I also watched the video on “The Biology of Dads”. I found it interesting that the testosterone levels are affected by the status of his relationships and whether a child is present. The fact that single men have higher levels compared to men in a committed relationship was interesting to me. What really grabbed my attention is that the testosterone levels dropped even further once a child is born. Several years ago, while I worked an odd shift, I felt chronically fatigued. My family doctor ran numerous blood tests to see if a cause could be discovered. It was a hard adjustment to the schedule but through the blood tests he ran. He checked my testosterone level. I remember him telling me a number and I didn’t know if that was good or bad, and he said there was a range. I never inquired to why there was a range and I never thought that a committed man with children would have the lowest testosterone levels of all the groups.
The other thing I found interesting in the video was how they discussed what a Dad was more likely to do with his kids than the Mom will. They talked about how Dad’s encourage competitiveness and to push the boundaries. I see this all the time in my family. I want our kids to be more independent and responsible and my wife prefers to pamper them more. I want them to rinse their glasses when they are done with them and she would rather do it for them. Another example of how I directly could relate, is we are doing some remodeling, and we had some wood boards that needed to be restacked. My wife was doing it and then our oldest son wanted to do it for her. She said, “No, you might get a splinter.” I am not making this up. I told her to let him do it, and she wasn’t happy. So it was interesting to know that this is something that happens in other people’s homes and not just mine.
If it isn’t obvious, the video “The Biology of Dads” was by far the most interesting to me in this module. I always felt that when I married my wife that I changed, and I changed again when the kids were born. I don’t mean a negative change either. When I got married I noticed I was more concern for her happiness and wellbeing than anything else. Then when my kids were born I was concerned about everything. If they were healthy, would they be happy, would they be artists or an author, a doctor, lawyer, a scientist, among other things. To know it wasn’t just my priorities changing but my testosterone levels changed along with my life changes just fascinates me. I knew how we interacted with our kids was different and who they go to for different things is different. If they have a splinter they want their Mom, if they want to play they want me. Now I am just waiting for the teenage years and the next change. The uncool, doesn’t understand, too strict, the go change your clothes, the do it now, and the you don’t get it, Dad.
I also watched the video on “The Biology of Dads”. I found it interesting that the testosterone levels are affected by the status of his relationships and whether a child is present. The fact that single men have higher levels compared to men in a committed relationship was interesting to me. What really grabbed my attention is that the testosterone levels dropped even further once a child is born. Several years ago, while I worked an odd shift, I felt chronically fatigued. My family doctor ran numerous blood tests to see if a cause could be discovered. It was a hard adjustment to the schedule but through the blood tests he ran. He checked my testosterone level. I remember him telling me a number and I didn’t know if that was good or bad, and he said there was a range. I never inquired to why there was a range and I never thought that a committed man with children would have the lowest testosterone levels of all the groups.
The other thing I found interesting in the video was how they discussed what a Dad was more likely to do with his kids than the Mom will. They talked about how Dad’s encourage competitiveness and to push the boundaries. I see this all the time in my family. I want our kids to be more independent and responsible and my wife prefers to pamper them more. I want them to rinse their glasses when they are done with them and she would rather do it for them. Another example of how I directly could relate, is we are doing some remodeling, and we had some wood boards that needed to be restacked. My wife was doing it and then our oldest son wanted to do it for her. She said, “No, you might get a splinter.” I am not making this up. I told her to let him do it, and she wasn’t happy. So it was interesting to know that this is something that happens in other people’s homes and not just mine.
If it isn’t obvious, the video “The Biology of Dads” was by far the most interesting to me in this module. I always felt that when I married my wife that I changed, and I changed again when the kids were born. I don’t mean a negative change either. When I got married I noticed I was more concern for her happiness and wellbeing than anything else. Then when my kids were born I was concerned about everything. If they were healthy, would they be happy, would they be artists or an author, a doctor, lawyer, a scientist, among other things. To know it wasn’t just my priorities changing but my testosterone levels changed along with my life changes just fascinates me. I knew how we interacted with our kids was different and who they go to for different things is different. If they have a splinter they want their Mom, if they want to play they want me. Now I am just waiting for the teenage years and the next change. The uncool, doesn’t understand, too strict, the go change your clothes, the do it now, and the you don’t get it, Dad.