And then the lil fuckers get old enough to shred alongside daddy! How good is that!

The Surfer’s Guide To Having Kids!

You can spawn…and…shred!

Five days ago, lil Mike C lit up on the horrors that lay await for any surfer should he sire a child.

A brief, but revealing excerpt:

“The simplest tasks are made difficult, the most basic pleasures induce painful amounts of guilt, and surfing — especially for people with nine-to-fives — is almost entirely out of the equation. Being a parent truly is a full-time job, and through this trip I’ve gained newfound respect for any child-rearing couple. I don’t know how single parents even survive, to be honest.”

(Read on here)

Makes a man tremble in his shoes don’t it? As it should.

And shouldn’t.

I’ve spawned kids almost since the day my vital spermatozoa announced itself in a dream (Nordic woman on rug by fire. Round, brown ass lifted a little, face turning towards me at the moment of ejaculation.)

Three I’ve kept, a few others were binned.

What kind of relationship is it where a woman offers her stud a pass-out? It ain’t reverse sharia. Be your own man. An hour out of her day so she can look after own kid ain’t gonna kill her. And, anyway, there’s a good chance you’re projecting your own guilt onto your gal.

Yeah, wah, wah, wah etc. Except what’s better for society? A kid no one wants (click here for the theory that legalised abortion lowers the crime rate ) or you take the gamble a foetus can’t feel the knife slicing it apart. I think, or at least, hope the latter.

Anyway, I got kids and surf pretty much whenever I want. Tends to be a lack of desire that keeps me out of the water more than responsibilites.

Here’s how it works.

      1. Babies don’t need two parents around ‘em: It’s a simple notion. A baby needs food, sleep and you gotta keep it warm. It takes two adults? The hell it does. It’s one of society’s laws, howevs, that you’ll meet a gal, she’ll want a kid while you’re noncommittal about the idea, so you go along with it cause you’re an easygoing sorta guy. Baby showers. Baby talk. Then the kid comes and you’re suddenly the devil for ruining her life. And you get thrown this guilt thing if you want to go surf. Speak frankly. Share the kid-rearing. She gets up all night to plant the kid on her cans, you do the morning shift and let your gal sleep in. Stuff the baby in a papoose and go surf check. You get back, you hand kid over. You go surf.
      2. But keep it short. Who needs two-hour surfs anyway? You’re not there to talk shit. Surf a double-heat, forty minutes. Twenty waves and you’re out. Your gal is thrilled ‘cause you’re back in an hour. And you ripped the heart out of the session.
      3. Know your tides and swell directions. Don’t drive aimlessly for hours. Know your spot. Hit it.
      4. This pass-out bullshit: What kind of relationship is it where a woman offers her stud a pass-out? It ain’t reverse sharia. Be your own man. An hour out of her day so she can look after own kid ain’t gonna kill her. And, anyway, there’s a good chance you’re projecting your own guilt onto your gal. Maybe she’s delighted your fat ass is out the door.
      5. Multiple kids: This is where it gets tricky. One kid is easy. Two parents means there’s always room for the other to hit the booze or go surf. Two kids is five times as hard as one; three is ten times. My advice? Stick to two and cut ‘em three years apart. That way, your bigger kid can walk, feed itself, don’t need plastic pants etc.
      6. The money thing. Mike C gets it right here. Kids are expensive. And not just school, clothes, school, all those lessons, all those birthday party presents every weekend. But remember pre-kids when hard times hit you could lay low, share a cheap room, live on Weet-Bix? When you got kids it’s not just their welfare, but their view of the world you’re shaping. You don’t want to send ‘em to school looking like bums. Or missing out on all those wonderful material gifts.

The upshot?

Life is meaningless, and absurd beyond measure. At least it is until a couple of kids show up. Their existence in your life creates a sense of legacy and turns you into a teacher of life’s precious gift. It anchors your place in the universe. For the first time in your life you feel love. Real love. A family you created. A world within a world.

And y’know what that means? Don’t get divorced ’cause you want to chase tail. Even if it’s all going to shit, even if the gal is crazy. Especially if the gal if crazy.

Bottom line: If you want your kids to prosper, love your woman, their mama, like she’s the last girl on earth.

Now go spawn!

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Tudor
Tudor
9 years ago

Short surfs and no pissing about is absolutely the key!

Manuka
Manuka
9 years ago

I love my kids more than surfing, but surfing comes second.

My kids changed my life from day one, for good.
Today, with 9 years, my older kid surfed alone for the first time. I’m so proud!
I like the level of discussion here. A lot of people with experience and love for their kids. Love the BG community more and more.
Thanks Derek for sharing and Michael for bringing the subject.
This article reminded me of Chas’s “Opinion: The Joys of Fatherhood”. Great reading on this topic.
I would say “Only a father knows the feeling

janeausten
janeausten
9 years ago

Oh, and forget any non surfing pastimes [photography, playing guitar, sleeping in] all of that’s fucking over.

Tom
Tom
9 years ago

Great article Derek – me 8 yr old twin boys and 10 year old daughter 21 months apart in all!!! I guarantee it is tough, but also unreal
Just played father of year by taking the 3 to Easter show with 115000 other people solo.
The waves were epic when I drove past at 730. There is always tomorrow.

Ghostface Braddah
Ghostface Braddah
9 years ago

7. Live near a grandparent (preferably a couple). Easy to drop the kids with them and go shred.

Black Rubber
Black Rubber
9 years ago

My kids are starting to get into surfing. No push from their surfing parents, just finding their own way. No idea whether long term they will take to surfing, soccer of softball (well, hopefully not softball). But the thought of them exploring their way through our garage that houses everything from mid-60s logs to modern sticks gives me a skip in my step.

bitter guy
bitter guy
9 years ago

20 waves in 40 minutes! yeah, keep telling yourself that’s going to happen. be honest, surfing takes a back seat. call it manning up, call it whatever you want, but you’re missing most of the good days and that’s the choice you made.

GiGi
GiGi
9 years ago

ohh the joys of a covert double life for a quick dip in the drink,,,, something a suburban civilian golf dad will never know!!!!!!

GiGi
GiGi
9 years ago

best article on the ‘Grit in a while, (and can onIy be written with true experience) kind of a shame they stick to surf sooooo much, as when they go off topic its a fresh breath…… That being said, i’m gonna go tell the Queen i’m a devout subject.

Kennypowersmullet
Kennypowersmullet
9 years ago

Got 2 months to go till my first spawn drops. Wise words champ

Superworm
Superworm
9 years ago

Welcome to the next chapter, embrace it. I’m guessing you’re 30+, so let go of your 20’s. The first 9 months are hell, no sleep and all we men are good for is to reach for something just outside your woman’s grasp, and the baby doesn’t even know we exist until it turns about 1. Having your own baby sleep on your chest on the sofa is one of the best times ever! I’m currently blowing up balloons for our little one’s birthday… 🙂

?uzzled
?uzzled
9 years ago

Don’t bother fucking for four or five months after the baby is born, its awful.

Kennypowersmullet
Kennypowersmullet
9 years ago
Reply to  ?uzzled

headies will do if that’s the case

Audit In Progress
Audit In Progress
9 years ago

Baby is sleeping on me as I read this. High five, Dez!

DrunkenAngel
DrunkenAngel
9 years ago

Ummm women surf too you know. they aren’t just baby machines.

?uzzled
?uzzled
9 years ago
Reply to  DrunkenAngel

Bullshit

Lizzie Me
Lizzie Me
9 years ago
Reply to  DrunkenAngel

That’s why we have surfing mums… so we can go the beach with the kids and spend the day surfing while hubby goes to work to pay the bills. Mwahahahahaha…

velobwoy
velobwoy
9 years ago

Yeah, I trip out on the love part. People without kids (and sadly, some with) have literally no idea. Another good thing about waiting till I was old – I’ve surfed plenty. What, I’m gonna, like, progress? And sticking with momma – yeah, if you can do it and remain even halfway sane – it makes all the difference in the world for the critters. It’s called manning up, and it’s not about paddling out at your bombing beachie. Onya Derek.

Michael Ciaramella
Michael Ciaramella
9 years ago

This is the best.

Lemmy
Lemmy
9 years ago

for once im with you on the first article. kids suck, they are a life investment and you are forever trapped with the person you had them with. dont do it

Ricoimmo
Ricoimmo
9 years ago

i’ll co-sign #3 for sure — with two kids, i surf when and where i can, which is sometimes a blessing in disguise. no more endless surf checks. if i have time to paddle out, i paddle out. fuck it.
almost always the right call.

ethanlouisklein
ethanlouisklein
9 years ago

As a dad with 2 kids reading this I was nodding my head thinking, “this man speaketh the truth!” Huzzah to you Derek Reilly for a timely and topical piece (for me). Only thing i’d add is that my primary sessions happen now either when skipping work or skipping kids. It’s weird to feel the passion for the slurf live on but the priorities change and i’m ok with it. Worst moments happen when wifey is working (on a weekend) and i take kids to the beach and the waves are on. Self inflicted torture but I can’t resist. Next thing I know the little hellions are lost in the dunes because I’m staring at the waves.

?uzzled
?uzzled
9 years ago

I had no problems leaving my kids on the beach while I surfed. They played in the sand and shit.

A-rock Newman
A-rock Newman
9 years ago

Tremendous article. Well said.

Antipodes
Antipodes
9 years ago

I largely agree; especially on the point that 1 kid is 300% easier than 2 and to put in the effort with your woman to make it work. My big lessons with having kids (and life in general) is to except that sometimes life can be fucking random and the reality may differ wildly from your expectations. Case in point; my younger son is on the Autism spectrum which ratchets up the degree of difficulty. This means that surfing regularly is even more critical for me to stay on an even keel and to be a half decent parent.

The Bitchy Crab
The Bitchy Crab
9 years ago
Reply to  Antipodes

Yeah, I forgot that point. What sorta daddy does a gal want? Well-adjusted and exercised or strung out and frustrated as hell?

Lemon Next to the Pie
Lemon Next to the Pie
9 years ago

Yep. My wife made the connection a while ago. Realised that the beach was part of the equation and accepted it. This very morning we had a house inspection, but (having put in a coupla hours weeding yesterday), was actively encouraged to get down for the early.

Would also recommend establishing a routine(s). If dad or mum needs to get a wave in its harder to argue against it if it is part of the day.

throwing disqus
throwing disqus
9 years ago
Reply to  Antipodes

The world needs more people & fathers like you.

Antipodes
Antipodes
9 years ago

Yeah – I dunno. I’m just trying to keep it all rolling and give my kids a good shot at life. Parenting’s definitely an interesting conundrum.

throwing disqus
throwing disqus
9 years ago

Is this a quote from the new Bob Hawke book your writing ?

“I’ve spawned kids almost since the day my vital spermatozoa announced itself in a dream (Nordic woman on rug by fire. Round, brown ass lifted a little, face turning toward me at the moment of ejaculation.)”

The Bitchy Crab
The Bitchy Crab
9 years ago

Oh I have much…much…better moments in my upcoming book. Stories where toes curl!


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