Ive noticed one clear thing about my wife’s beautiful midriff – as the baby is steadily increasing in size it has having an interesting effect on her belly button. It’s almost as if the baby is having a bit of fun poking at it from the inside to see what happens!

I’ve been reading this Blokes Guide to Pregnancy book – sort of a basic how to for men who struggle to get past page 3 of the Sun. The chapters are broken up into short sections of about a page or so long – perfectly designed for short attention spans. I must admit though I can’t be too patronising about the rather simple nature of the book – I am seriously looking forward to becoming a father but chapter after chapter about hormones, development stages, breast feeding etc etc any man is dying to get back to the Playstation.

It does make me wonder where society places men in the process of raising a child. Certainly we are still very highly valued – especially in a loving and equal relationship which I am very fortunate to be in – but in many contexts I am sure men do not feel that same sense of value.

One certainly sees these Fathers 4 Justice nuts complaining about their treatment – and yes they have a point in a way but as you look deeper into many of their cases you see their own failings. One also hears of the loss of many fathers in more inner city deprived areas when they just walk off, leaving the mother with the baby. That is perhaps the more poignant and realistic sign that in certain areas of society things are not well.

Sure courts tend to favour Moms in any dispute but perhaps one of the key reasons why children are losing out on their fathers is that men are no longer being taught responsibility. That desire to support and care for not just your partner but also your child as well. So how do you teach that responsibility? That’s a tough one to answer – perhaps I will keep it for another blog.

In the meantime though I’m just enjoying reading AA Milne’s Winnie the Pooh to the bump and then feeling those soft movements under my hands.