Title: Father-Centered Parenting
Author: Satoshi Takahashi, Associate Professor of Condensed Matter Theory, Graduate School of Materials Science
Before I started raising my children alone, I estimated how much time would be spent on what and simulated a day in the child's life. Some things went as expected and some things were not so sweet. Cooking and laundry were no problem. For laundry, the key is to use the dryer as a closet and not to hang or fold clothes. Cooking is also done in about 30 minutes. The secret is that my oldest son loves tuna sashimi and salmon roe. This was very helpful and I fed them every week. The only time my expectations were greatly disappointed was when I picked up my son from daycare. After playing at daycare, he wanted to see the trains and fire trucks on the way to the parking lot, and when we finally got to the parking lot, he was still in the mood to play. Eating was also unexpectedly difficult. If we left them alone, they would start playing and not eat. I had to stay up all night to make sure they ate, and I had to wait until they went to bed before I could eat. I was so hungry that I ate a lot of food without thinking, and I gained a lot of weight during that time.
Despite this sloppy parenting, my oldest son has grown up well. He is now in the second grade of elementary school, blessed with friends and having a good time. I think it means that even a lazy person like me was able to make it. In the end, things did not work out as simulated, and my research was severely affected. I think it may have been due to my age, but it was also physically demanding and my body started to rattle in various ways during that period. However, the memories I have from that time are irreplaceable, and I feel that my relationship with my eldest son was solidified. I think it was a very good experience. In addition, the teachers at the preschool and the mothers of my friends respected me just because I was raising my son by myself. It was a big difference from university or home.
