Category: Netherlands

Week One: Promoted to Papa-in-Chief

To smooth your transition from working man to papa-in-chief, prepare like you’re starting a new job. I’m four days into my parental leave now and slowly starting to get my feet under me. My suggestion to other dads preparing for the same transition? Do a little homework. Ask for a handover. And establish your baby baseline. Just like you…

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Practice What You Preach: Day One

Almost six months ago, I became a father for the second time. My son, Matteo, has brought newfound joy and light into our home, along with a healthy dose of parental humility. Intellectually, I knew that our second child would not be a replica of our firstborn. But it has been frustrating to see my best parenting tips and…

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The Morning Routine: Go-Time

// Andrew is a father of two living in the Netherlands who is sharing his experiences during his three-month parental leave. // The key to getting both girls ready to leave the house in the morning is keeping enough momentum for the older not to lose focus and the younger not to feel neglected.

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The Morning Routine: Breakfast

// Andrew is a father of two living in the Netherlands who is sharing his experiences during his three-month parental leave. // The Dutch adage of ‘rust, reinheid en regelmaat’ (rest, cleanliness and regularity) neatly sums up my country’s conventional wisdom on childrearing. Although the maxim seems somewhat rigid, I do find a set rhythm with recognizable little rituals…

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Diplomat With Diapers!

Welcome to our blog series written by fathers on parental leave. They’ve agreed to share their hopes, fears, successes and struggles with us. The goal? To inspire other dads to take up the parental leave challenge.  Meet Andrew, a father of two living in the Netherlands. He took paternity leave in August 2018 and decided to take another three months…

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