Monday 6 September
Pulling hard to raise kids
Elissa Doherty, Herald Sun (4/9/10)
Olympic champ's oarsome role
FOR Olympic rower James Tomkins, being a father to three girls is a joy, but also an "oarsome" responsibility.
"They're great children," he said of Jessica, 8, and twins Holly and Georgia, 5. "I feel really lucky to have healthy, happy kids who love me.
"But, while Father's Day is a celebration for fathers, it's also a reminder that it's such a massive responsibility, guiding your children towards adulthood."
Tomkins revealed in a new book that his wife Bridget was told she had miscarried their first daughter. However, at 16 weeks, the two were thrilled to discover she was still pregnant.
The revelation is made in a new book, Cheers to Childbirth, featuring well-known dads, including comedian Adam Spencer and surfer Mark Occhilupo, sharing their experiences of childbirth.
Tomkins told the Herald Sun of their pain at being wrongly told they'd lost their first child, Jessica.
"It was pretty disappointing," he said. "He told us we were no longer pregnant, without any ultrasound. We then went to Switzerland and climbed an 8000ft mountain.
"She was 14 weeks pregnant and we didn't even know. She was getting a bit puffed."
The couple now believe the symptoms of miscarriage Bridget experienced were probably due to a twin who didn't survive.
In the book, Tomkins says he approached the birth like an athlete, cheering on his wife.
He also says he received an unwanted visit upon arriving home from the hospital with their newborn twins, Holly and Georgia.
Waiting on their doorstep were officers from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority, as he'd been selected for a random drug test.
Tomkins said he wanted to take part in the book to help balance the scales, saying men could be publicly forgotten in the early stages of child-rearing.
He admits to having felt ill-prepared for parenthood but also how being a father has put sport into perspective.
The reality of his retirement from professional rowing last week was starting to sink in.
"I'm looking forward to spending more time with the girls, and just having fun with them," he said.
"They grow up so quickly."
Among the other candid accounts of 15 men, Spencer says his "dicky eye" was the result of a botched forceps delivery, and world champion surfer Occhilupo explains why he loves being a dad.
The book, by Lucy Perry, who runs Beer + Bubs for dads-to-be, aims to answer questions men are too afraid to ask.
