Nick,
I hear you are on ABC’s The Bachelor this season and that one of the lovely ladies vying for your attention is a doula. I’m sure Liz is a beautiful person both inside and out, but as you journey toward married bliss, I feel like I need to tell you a few things man to man about what you might be looking forward to if you hand that final rose to a doula. I should know, I have been married to one for over 20 years.
As a doula, she will be on call 24/7 two weeks before and after a baby’s due date. Making plans for any long-weekend getaways can be hard. On the other hand, nights in can be pretty fun.
Babies come when they want to, so be prepared to sub in at any moment for things your wife was going to cover with your kids – teacher conferences, middle school band concerts, or taking your kids to the dentist. You wife will love you for being the amazing father that you are (and doing those things is parenting – not babysitting).
She will spend hours on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram “marketing” her business. While this may be highly suspect, you can be sure she will always know all the latest news as well. My wife is the one who knows what is happening in the world and is a great conversationalist with my business colleagues.
On the downside, doulas are really comfortable having awkward conversations. Imagine this over Thanksgiving dinner – “I couldn’t believe the size of her placenta!” or “I’m glad she only needed a small episiotomy.” On the upside, doulas are really comfortable having awkward conversations. Sometimes I hear her talking to clients who are trying to rekindle their romance after baby and I hear things like “inebriate and lubricate”. Doulas definitely know how to get babies in, not just out!
The biggest plus side to being married to a doula though is that they have big hearts and are passionate about what they do. They make the world a better place and I have found being married to one to be wonderful.
I hope you find true love on The Bachelor, good luck Nick!
Brian – Husband of Maria Pokluda, Great Expectations Doulas, Dallas, Texas
In the DFW, you can catch episodes of The Bachelor on ABC’s WFAA on Monday nights.
(roses image by www.proflowers.com)