OK, so you've mastered all the words and actions to Wind the Bobbin Up, you can fold and unfold a buggy in a instant and make music from recycled household items, but that鈥檚 only the start.
How many of these can you relate to?
1. You鈥檙e reliving your childhood
You probably thought those days of being covered in mud or paint after playtime were over 鈥 until you became a dad. Having as much fun as your little one is something you might not have expected, but it鈥檚 most definitely a win and great chance to unwind from your grown-up responsibilities.
And, who would have guessed you鈥檇 find playing with a cardboard box more enjoyable than watching televised sport?
2. You鈥檙e a renowned comedian (and all-round entertainer)
To your little one, you are the funniest person in the world.
And while you鈥檝e always thought of yourself as mildly amusing, you didn鈥檛 expect you鈥檇 end up with such a strong fanbase.
It鈥檚 not about your witty one-liners: ripping paper, silly dances and peekaboo are central to your routine. Even Peter Kay isn鈥檛 this adaptable.
And guess what? As well as being hilarious to your baby, you鈥檙e also helping build their communication skills.
3. You鈥檝e got lightning-speed reactions
You鈥檝e developed a sixth sense, knowing exactly when your little one is about to fill their nappy, stumble or when a toy is about to slip off the kitchen worktop.
Your quick reactions have saved a floor from being covered in baby food and prevented full-on tears. Phew. Premier League goalkeepers: watch and learn.
4. You鈥檝e got mealtimes sussed out
Now your little one is weaning, they鈥檝e turned into a food critic more demanding than Gordon Ramsay.
You're no longer thinking back to the pre-baby times when meals were chilled-out, and are focused on the tips, tricks and coping strategies that can stop tantrums in their tracks. You鈥檝e even found some ways to keep them entertained in their highchair and have fine-tuned your cooking skills.
5. You can babble with the best
Deon, from our Dad Life series describes chatting to his baby like conversations in 鈥淐hewbacca gargle style鈥 and we couldn鈥檛 put it better ourselves.
You might not know what they鈥檙e saying sometimes, but you鈥檝e developed an excellent ability to babble back 鈥 and your baby loves it!
6. You pack the Tetris way
You cut your professional teeth getting all your holiday gear into a carry-on suitcase. And now you鈥檙e a dad, you can you can pack endless baby kit into a change bag, cupboard or drawer like it鈥檚 a spatial-reasoning puzzle.
It's all in a day's work.
7. You鈥檝e got advanced nappy-changing skills
You鈥檙e such a pro multi-tasker that you use nappy changes as a chance for you and your baby to bond during a busy day.
Singing and talking through changes are great for babies鈥 brains 鈥 and who knows, might even make the smell more bearable.
9. You can decode gestures and actions
Your baby tries to communicate with you from the moment they are born.
It鈥檚 not easy to work out what they're trying to say before they use words, but like a Sherlock Holmes of baby emotions, you can decipher every glance away, pursed mouth and clenched hand.
10. You鈥檝e learned to go with the flow
You鈥檝e become a lot more patient since you became a dad, which research shows is partly due to changing hormone levels and the fact your priorities have changed. Those things that niggled and annoyed you before you became a dad just don鈥檛 matter as much.
Night-time feeds are tough and tempers still get frayed, but celebrate the fact that you can entertain your little one even when you鈥檙e knackered.
11. And finally: you keep on keeping on
You know there鈥檚 no such thing as a perfect parent and you're learning on the job.
So, toast the small victories like they're the greatest achievements; managing to have a catnap while your baby sleeps, having plenty of laughs and leaving on time to meet dad friends鈥 these all deserve a hearty high-five.
