The first time I learned I was to become a Father in 2005, I was sweating like heck and well, quite excited.And when the big day came, I was in Cloud9!!! My wish came true. I was a father at last!!!
However, because of some restrictions with my first visa in Austria, my wife and I decided that she'd have to go back to work in Vienna whilst I'd have to take care of our 2 month-old baby boy in our house in a small village on the Austrian countryside...Indeed, I was also to become a Mommy-a role I never even expected...
My son, Aramis, was born nearly Wintertime of 2005-one of the coldest winters in Austria. Snowfall and Snowstorms were unprecedented all throughout Europe. That Winter was such a catastrophe.
Every morning, I'd dress my son with 4 or 5 underclothings plus a thick winter jacket.He'd stay quietly on his pram and sleep while I shovel snow which amounted to 2-3 meters high in front of our yard. A few occassions the temperature went to to minus 20s and 30s (Celsius). 'Twas a helluva freezin' winter, but my son was courageous enough to endure the weather-he'd quietly sleep until I finished shovellin'.
At night, he'd cry out loud (maybe longing for his mama), so I'd move him to my bed and he'd quiet down - so I reckon he just wanted to get a little bit of warmth. And so, I had no choice but to sleep beside him (almost) everynight. Although almost every four hours he'd cry when he's hungry or when his nappy's full. Nevertheless, he was A-ok..
Bathtimes were very much a challenge. Because I was alone with him, it was nerve-wrecking 'coz he's never like Water and moved a lot and shriek at the same time. It was disastrous the first few months...Water everywhere, suds all over the floor, etc. etc...
My son was teaching me a very important virtue which I lack, Patience.
And of course, there was the first visit to the Pediatrician.
The 'white' women looked at me so strangely-but some were glad to see a man carrying a baby. I guess bcoz baby caring has never been generally appreciated by the male gender that some women feel indifferent and a few, enthused and due to my being Oriental, they were in awe.
Eventually, with our constant visit to the Pedia's clinic, some of the mothers befriended me and asked lots of questions on 'Single Parenthood'. It was something.But the most intrigued was ( I think ) was the Pediatrician herself. She couldn't believe that a small-Asiatic guy, who just moved into a small Austrian dorf, was caring for a baby and playing Mommy!!!
A few more months passed and we had to go back to Vienna, to live in the city again.We had to leave some very good friends behind.And we had to pay one last visit to our Pediatrician. I thought she'd be surprised but I was more surprised as she handed me a T-shirt with print that says 'THE RAREST MUM IN THE WHOLE WORLD'.
(Chiupow, a highschool classmate of mine emailed me one time and related that he too became an 'INATAY' or 'ina at tatay'- a Pilipino word for mum and dad. But the word 'atay' actually is a Pilipino word for New Castle Disease-a bird virus which occurs mostly on chickens and wipes out an entire coop!)
So here's one for all the INATAYS out there...
However, because of some restrictions with my first visa in Austria, my wife and I decided that she'd have to go back to work in Vienna whilst I'd have to take care of our 2 month-old baby boy in our house in a small village on the Austrian countryside...Indeed, I was also to become a Mommy-a role I never even expected...
My son, Aramis, was born nearly Wintertime of 2005-one of the coldest winters in Austria. Snowfall and Snowstorms were unprecedented all throughout Europe. That Winter was such a catastrophe.
Every morning, I'd dress my son with 4 or 5 underclothings plus a thick winter jacket.He'd stay quietly on his pram and sleep while I shovel snow which amounted to 2-3 meters high in front of our yard. A few occassions the temperature went to to minus 20s and 30s (Celsius). 'Twas a helluva freezin' winter, but my son was courageous enough to endure the weather-he'd quietly sleep until I finished shovellin'.
At night, he'd cry out loud (maybe longing for his mama), so I'd move him to my bed and he'd quiet down - so I reckon he just wanted to get a little bit of warmth. And so, I had no choice but to sleep beside him (almost) everynight. Although almost every four hours he'd cry when he's hungry or when his nappy's full. Nevertheless, he was A-ok..
Bathtimes were very much a challenge. Because I was alone with him, it was nerve-wrecking 'coz he's never like Water and moved a lot and shriek at the same time. It was disastrous the first few months...Water everywhere, suds all over the floor, etc. etc...
My son was teaching me a very important virtue which I lack, Patience.
And of course, there was the first visit to the Pediatrician.
The 'white' women looked at me so strangely-but some were glad to see a man carrying a baby. I guess bcoz baby caring has never been generally appreciated by the male gender that some women feel indifferent and a few, enthused and due to my being Oriental, they were in awe.
Eventually, with our constant visit to the Pedia's clinic, some of the mothers befriended me and asked lots of questions on 'Single Parenthood'. It was something.But the most intrigued was ( I think ) was the Pediatrician herself. She couldn't believe that a small-Asiatic guy, who just moved into a small Austrian dorf, was caring for a baby and playing Mommy!!!
A few more months passed and we had to go back to Vienna, to live in the city again.We had to leave some very good friends behind.And we had to pay one last visit to our Pediatrician. I thought she'd be surprised but I was more surprised as she handed me a T-shirt with print that says 'THE RAREST MUM IN THE WHOLE WORLD'.
(Chiupow, a highschool classmate of mine emailed me one time and related that he too became an 'INATAY' or 'ina at tatay'- a Pilipino word for mum and dad. But the word 'atay' actually is a Pilipino word for New Castle Disease-a bird virus which occurs mostly on chickens and wipes out an entire coop!)
So here's one for all the INATAYS out there...
Lower Austria, Spring 2006
