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Tom Kecskemethy was at sea on his first major Navy deployment—a 24-year-old newlywed—when his wife, Heidi, told him all sing-songy over the phone, “I’ve got new-ews.” You see where this is going, yes? Tom didn’t. His mind was so far from children, he thought Heidi was going to tell him she’d bought a car. Today, 20 years later, Tom is an empty-nester with two daughters. In this piece we’ll hear what it was like for Tom to be away for most of his wife’s first pregnancy, to feel useless (and then empowered) during childbirth, and to eventually become an at-home dad.
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Related Pieces
Piece Description
Tom Kecskemethy was at sea on his first major Navy deployment—a 24-year-old newlywed—when his wife, Heidi, told him all sing-songy over the phone, “I’ve got new-ews.” You see where this is going, yes? Tom didn’t. His mind was so far from children, he thought Heidi was going to tell him she’d bought a car. Today, 20 years later, Tom is an empty-nester with two daughters. In this piece we’ll hear what it was like for Tom to be away for most of his wife’s first pregnancy, to feel useless (and then empowered) during childbirth, and to eventually become an at-home dad.
Broadcast History
Originally aired as episode #12 in The Longest Shortest Time podcast.
Intro and Outro
INTRO:IF USING "NO INTRO" VERSION:
Tom Kecskemethy (KECH-kuh-meth-ee) had just gotten back from his honeymoon when he had to ship off to sea for his first major Navy deployment. On his first phone call home, his wife, Heidi, told him she was pregnant. Tom, totally thrown off-guard, hung up. He did come around to being excited about the baby pretty quickly . . . but he was still stuck on the boat. Hillary Frank interviewed Tom about surprise fatherhood and what it was like to not get to see his pregnant wife until the ship finally docked in the UK. Heidi was four-and-a-half months along.
Tom Kecskemethy (KECH-kuh-meth-ee) and his wife, Heidi, are now empty-nesters. You can hear more stories of surprising struggles in early parenthood at the Longest Shortest Time Web site, longestshortesttime.com.
Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parking Lot | The Batteries Duo | Les Amusements. | CDBY | 2010 | 05:02 |
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