How You Gonna Do Daddy Like That? (The Daycare Betrayal) Artwork

In My Daddy Era: Confessions from a First-Time Father

In My Daddy Era is a place for me to slow down and say the things I don’t want to forget.

Each episode is a short reflection on becoming a first-time father. The moments that catch me off guard, the feelings I didn’t expect, the fear, the joy, and the quiet in-between. Sometimes it’s something big. Sometimes it’s something small. But it’s always honest.

This isn’t a parenting podcast or a guide on how to do things “right.” It’s more like an audio journal of me talking through what fatherhood is teaching me in real time, while I’m still learning it myself.

The episodes are short, lightly edited, and recorded whenever life makes something feel worth capturing. Just reflections I want to remember… and maybe something my daughter will hear one day and understand how deeply she was loved.

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In My Daddy Era: Confessions from a First-Time Father

How You Gonna Do Daddy Like That? (The Daycare Betrayal)

May 06, 2026 • Richard Dodds • Episode 10

0:00 | 4:28

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It’s my favorite part of the day. I get to daycare to pick up my daughter, and instead of smiles and open arms, she clings to her teacher and cries when I take her from her... ouch

I’m not going to lie, that first time it happened, it broke my heart. I’ve been with her every day of her life, and I’m thinking, "How you going to do daddy like that?" But after the initial sting, I realized how lucky I am. She's with people she loves so much that she doesn't want to leave.

In this episode, I’m reflecting on a "Year of Firsts," from the rookie terror of that first bath to the heavy emotions of the first daycare drop-off. Plus, a special shoutout for Teacher Appreciation Week to the incredible women who make my daughter feel safe and loved while I’m at work.

In this confession:

The Rookie Recap: Looking back at the first tooth, the first "Dada," and that terrifying first bath.
The Daycare Sting: Navigating the moment your child chooses their teacher over you.
The "Village" in Action: Why I’m actually grateful for those daycare tears.
Teacher Appreciation: A special thank you to Miss Laetitia, Miss Stacey, and Miss Abby.

I’m Rick. I’m still learning, still growing, and still trying not to take it personally when a toddler chooses her teacher over her old man.

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This is my favorite part of the I get to daycare to pick up my Instead of smiles and open arms, cries when I take her from her. Ouch. Hi, I'm Rick and this is my Confessions from a first time father who probably needs a tissue. Recently, my wife and I birthday in a year of first. We experienced so many firsts during my daughter's first year of life. Her first tooth. Her first word, which, of Yeah, Dada. My wife's first Mother's Day. I got her a cool custom book daughter's name in it. To my first Father's Day, where daughter's name on it. Coolest sweatshirt ever. Probably my favorite. I remember taking my daughter to get her first shot and having to comfort both my wife and my daughter. It's okay babies. There have been so many firsts first night in her own room. Don't even get me started on the My wife and I were terrified. What a couple of rookies. Of all the firsts we've of life, most were monumental. But one of the biggest firsts My wife and I both have fairly jobs, so we knew early that care of her while we worked. As much as my mother wanted to help her, other responsibilities wouldn't allow her to keep my daughter. So daycare. It was the first day dropping my daughter off for care was a heavy one. You have to entrust the thing that's most precious to you, to people that you don't really know. This time around, I didn't have still had to come for my wife. And to be honest, I had to We've been fortunate that we care of our daughter very well. The best part of my day is still picking up my daughter from care. No matter how bad of a day I'm sees me when I get there, it It's always one of my favorite The first time I really understood how much my daughter loves her teachers is the day I came to pick her up like normal, and she wanted to stay with her teacher and cry when I went to get her. I'm not gonna lie, the first And yes, you heard me right. The first time that happened, it I'm like, I'm your daddy. I've been there every day of How you gonna do daddy like After I cried a little bit, you that she was with people she ready to leave when I got there. I'm so happy that my daughter has great teachers taking care of her while my wife and I are working. Adding another first to the list This week is our first Teacher Appreciation Week, and we are very grateful to all the amazing teachers out there, but we are especially grateful for Miss Letitia, Miss Stacey and Miss Abbey. The infant teachers that my Thank you for being such daughter so much. Another big thank you to the entire staff who do such a great job. You know, this is something that's really underrated, how important it is to have quality teachers that really care about the kids. Because trust me, that job is I know that I couldn't take care Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to all of the teachers out there. Thank you for all that you do. I'm still figuring out a lot of your stories and advice. Just click the link in the show And if you would like to help you're always welcome to join in the show notes as I continue I'm still learning, still Because the moment I get it down pat, that's when everything changes. Until next time.