So you have two lines
Maybe your wife showed the positive pregnancy test to you in the bathroom. Or the bedroom. Or you were sharp and guessed that her moodiness, cramping and wretching was not just bad Mexican food. You bought her the test, half holding your breath as her pee stretched out on the test strip.
And now, you are staring at two lines. Or if you paid for the most expensive test, the word PREGNANT showed up, so you didn't have any excuse to misinterpret the lines.
You're going to have a lot of first reactions and responses to the lines. Your wife doesn't need to know about all of them, especially if they are:
What she does not need from you
- What were we thinking?!
- Oh CRAP.. uhh. Did the condom break?
- How on earth are we going to pay for this.. "blessing"?
The reaction she wants from you goes something like this
- Whoa-ho ho! Wow! I can't believe it! How exciting!
- We'll get through this together, Hun. One day at a time.
- It's going to be all right. You GOT this. WE got this.
- I can't believe we're going to have another YOU walking around the earth! One of you is a blessing, but two?
- Giving her a long hug
- Tears of happiness
- What are YOU feeling right now?
- YYyyyyessss! We are so blessed.
- How can I best support you right now?
If this is your first pregnancy, your head is probably spinning. You have just shifted roles in a major way. First it was all about you.. what you wanted, what you needed. You were lonely, and you prayed for a companion and got married.
Then it was all about you two. What you could do together, how you could meet each other's needs, having fun and doing adult things.. meaning paying your electricity bill on time of course. Then came the two lines.
Now you're not just leading your wife. You are in the coveted position of coach, supporter, husband, ally, protector and... yes, you are now a dad. Even if your child does not make it out of the womb, you are a dad. And good dads are strong.
So be strong. Your wife needs you to be present and with her, now more than ever.