Bob Cook

Soon before the birth of my first child, my insurance agent told me it was imperative I buy more life insurance. He said that if I didn't, “when you see that baby, you’re going to smack yourself in the head and say, ‘I need more life insurance!’”

Tom Brady, if “I need more life insurance!” was your first thought, or anywhere in your thoughts, upon seeing your baby boy Wednesday (presuming you were there for the birth), then you’re going to need my advice more than you realize. (Thoughts of insurance never crossed my mind, and I was stupid enough not to buy my wife a thank-you-for-having-my-baby gift. You did get one of those, didn't you, Tom?)

Yes, Tom Brady, you are good at winning Super Bowls. But like my fellow native Hoosier Shawn Kemp, I am good at making babies. Except mine are all with the same woman, as far as I know.

You’re going to get a lot of unsolicited advice on how to raise your child. So my first piece of advice is this — don’t let people make you think you know nothing about being a father. Even though you’re new at this baby thing, your parental instincts will kick in like an Adam Vinatieri field goal. If you spend time with your boy, and get to know him, you’ll end up doing the right thing most of the time.

So don’t worry about all those know-it-alls — except for me. I have one more kid than you have Super Bowl rings, and none of them are in jail yet, so I do know it all. (The fact that my kids’ ages range from 2 to 10 should not color that fact.)

When you see your baby son, you will be filled with intense, swirling emotions — joy, unimaginable love, and the panic of, “what the heck am I supposed to do with this thing?” Babyhood is great, but it’s mostly mom time. Most men I know would be happy if their children were born six years old. At least by then you can play catch with them, or have them mow the lawn.

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However, what is great for men about newborns is that they will sleep just about anywhere, including your chest. They can sleep in such a snuggly, stable way that you can easily reach for, and consume, your beer if you’re watching a basketball game. That counts as “bonding time.”

If coach Bill Belichick is still grumbling about you taking off for daddy time, then have the boy sleep on your chest during a Patriots offensive meeting while you’re watching film of the New York Jets’ defensive tendencies.

One of the most important roles you have to play as father, and one you can start playing right away, is teaching your son to take risks, and to stand (literally and figuratively) on his own two feet.

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If you’ve watched any Disney movies, you know that a child’s fun and self-discovery never happens until mom is taken out of the picture (preferably in a cruel, horrible way). Now I know Bridget Moynahan is your ex, but in any case I would never recommend any mother be shot by a hunter for any reason whatsoever, even if that allows your child to meet playful, talking rabbits with restless leg syndrome.

But moms tend to be, and should be, worrywarts. You can worry, too, but your job is to make sure your son climbs a fence, a tree or playground equipment (not as intended) once a while, just to expand his horizons and teach him how to conquer fear.

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