Fetus Don't Fail Me Now: How Scientists Raise Children 233
An anonymous reader writes "In the latest column from scientist, humor columnist, and stand-up comedian Adam Ruben, he examines his own umbilicus and considers how being a scientist will affect his approach to raising his only slightly post-fetal child. From the article: 'I don't know how other prospective fathers treat their wives' pregnancies, but I saw it as a science project. It had a protocol, parameters, a timeline, and even the one item that makes funding agencies happy: a deliverable. I found myself poking at my wife's abdomen, asking, "Who's Daddy's little gestating blastocyst? Who's recapitulating phylogeny?"'"
Re:Sometimes not at all. (Score:5, Informative)
Knowing this, why would anyone who respects data have children?
Genital arousal combined with absence of contraceptives.
Re:If you ever have children, don't make my mistak (Score:5, Informative)
data does not tell the whole story (Score:2, Informative)
http://www.ted.com/talks/rufus_griscom_alisa_volkman_let_s_talk_parenting_taboos.html Let's talk parenting taboos: Rufus Griscom + Alisa Volkman
here is a TED talk that takes that first data point on decreased happiness and digs deeper.
Re:Don't bring the clipboard to bed... (Score:5, Informative)
In other words, in this pioneering study of human sperm, Mrs. van Leeuwenhoek was an uncredited lab assistant in an unusual capacity.
Re:well (Score:3, Informative)
Re:If you ever have children, don't make my mistak (Score:4, Informative)
True, although in our case, my wife referred to our daughter affectionately as Blasty well into the pregnancy.
She also sang Frank Sinatra ("I get a kick out of you") to the fetus every day for 7 months or so, so she could compare the response post-partum to a control (Dean Martin). Results were inconclusive. We're considering another trial.