Popsugar Family James Van Der Beek James Van Der Beek on Breastfeeding Moms James Van Der Beek Praises His Wife and the "Absurdly Stigmatized" Act That Is Breastfeeding July 28, 2018 by Perri Konecky First Published: July 25, 2018 View On One Page Photo 8 of 17 ADVERTISEMENT () Start Slideshow A few things I forgot between babies four and five: Dads, when your #newborn has been fed, changed, and is still upset, swaddle them up and hold them. Check in with them. Feel their face on yours. Talk to them. Rub their back, sway gently, hum, make the “swishy” sound in their ear to replicate the sound of Mom’s heartbeat in utero. If they’re still crying and it breaks your heart... that’s fatherhood. If you move past heartbreak into exasperation... that’s fatherhood. If they start screaming and you find yourself wanting to say “Oh, C’MON!” out loud... that’s fatherhood. If you feel helpless and inadequate and like you’re staring at a final exam full of questions you couldn’t possibly have known to study for... that’s fatherhood. And if you push through that... become more present than you’ve ever been, discover instincts you never knew you had, and summon up more love and patience than you’ve maybe ever shown anybody... and they either take it, or get tired, or finally work out that fart that was bothering them and fall asleep on your chest... and you suddenly feel like you beat the system, got nominated for a Nobel Prize and got told “I love you” by the first girl you ever loved... THAT’s fatherhood. Welcome... Glad you’re here. 💙 A post shared by James Van Der Beek (@vanderjames) on Jun 29, 2018 at 8:29am PDT Share This Link Copy ← Use Arrow Keys → 8 Previous Next Start Slideshow James Van Der BeekParentingCelebrity FamiliesBreastfeeding