Among the transitions people face in their lives, becoming a parent may be the most consequential. The fact that this life change is often expected and joyful does little to reduce the emotional upheaval and personal and professional adjustment required.
Becoming a Working Dad
It’s a major identity shift. Here’s how to manage the transition.
June 16, 2021
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Summary.
Life transitions involve three phases: the “long goodbye,” in which the person going through the transition mourns the life they’re leaving behind; the “messy middle,” in which the person sheds certain habits, mindsets, and lifestyles and begins to create new ones; and the “new beginning,” in which the person introduces their new self. These phases parallel nicely with the challenges and opportunities new working fathers face.
While the transition to working motherhood has been deeply studied by academics and discussed often in popular culture, the new dad transition has been woefully ignored. But research into these questions has accelerated in recent years. This article explores five tips for new dads to make the transition into working fatherhood a process that’s not just life disrupting, but life affirming, too.