Monday, December 5, 2011
Fatherhood Changes
I told my friend the other day to hurry up and have kids so we'd have more to talk about. It's not sad, but it's true.
I had my first kid back in April and it's changed me. It already seems like a lifetime ago. I can hardly picture myself without a kid anymore.
I always laughed at the people that only talks about their kids and now I'm one of them. I find myself gravitating toward people with kids just because we now have common stories to tell. And I'm actually interested in their stories about their kids. I'm that guy who brings the Christmas card pictures into work and shows everyone. Hell, I brought the picture in of her getting tubes in her ears. Who wants to see that? Other parents, that's who.
My sense of humor has evolved as well. The other day my daughter was crawling away. I called her name and tried to coax her back towards me. She stopped, turned around, gave me a sly grin and then turned and crawled with a new found determination and speed. Like she had a chance of getting away. I swear I nearly gave myself a headache I laughed so hard and for so long.
Having kids makes you think about things you never dreamed of before. I constantly look back on my own childhood now. I have this new found disdain for my father who never really took an interest in parenting. I look at my daughter and wonder if he felt about me the way I feel for her. Did it just wear thin or did he never have it?
I also have this new found admiration for my mother and what she went through to raise us. Suddenly her sacrifices seem so much greater and so understandable at the same time.
I worry about things like mortgages, life insurance, dental plans and college funds. But I also go to work everyday with a new found sense of purpose.
I don't get to hang out with friends or piddle in the garage as much as I used to, but I do have a steady appointment of playtime on the floor every Saturday morning. It's not a bad trade.
I told a prospective parent at work the other day that the worst thing about being a parent is not getting enough sleep, but the best thing is everything else. That about sums it up.
I had my first kid back in April and it's changed me. It already seems like a lifetime ago. I can hardly picture myself without a kid anymore.
I always laughed at the people that only talks about their kids and now I'm one of them. I find myself gravitating toward people with kids just because we now have common stories to tell. And I'm actually interested in their stories about their kids. I'm that guy who brings the Christmas card pictures into work and shows everyone. Hell, I brought the picture in of her getting tubes in her ears. Who wants to see that? Other parents, that's who.
My sense of humor has evolved as well. The other day my daughter was crawling away. I called her name and tried to coax her back towards me. She stopped, turned around, gave me a sly grin and then turned and crawled with a new found determination and speed. Like she had a chance of getting away. I swear I nearly gave myself a headache I laughed so hard and for so long.
Having kids makes you think about things you never dreamed of before. I constantly look back on my own childhood now. I have this new found disdain for my father who never really took an interest in parenting. I look at my daughter and wonder if he felt about me the way I feel for her. Did it just wear thin or did he never have it?
I also have this new found admiration for my mother and what she went through to raise us. Suddenly her sacrifices seem so much greater and so understandable at the same time.
I worry about things like mortgages, life insurance, dental plans and college funds. But I also go to work everyday with a new found sense of purpose.
I don't get to hang out with friends or piddle in the garage as much as I used to, but I do have a steady appointment of playtime on the floor every Saturday morning. It's not a bad trade.
I told a prospective parent at work the other day that the worst thing about being a parent is not getting enough sleep, but the best thing is everything else. That about sums it up.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Holes in my Shorts
It's been 8 weeks since my beautiful baby girl was born. There have been many changes that I was expecting and many that I wasn't. As I sat on the crapper today, taking a work dump (those last long enough to blog), I looked down and realized another change that was coming. With my focus now being on this tiny angel 24 hours a day my own material needs will be a distant second or even third in line. I'll be wearing underwear & socks with holes in them, my wardrobe probably won't change for the next decade. Eventually I'll be telling my daughter's new boyfriend that I've got underwear older than him.
My good friend had twins about 6 years ago. In that time he hasn't had a new pair of shoes and now cuts his own hair at the house, he even had a harbor chair put in his garage.
While all this may sound dreadful for some people I for one am looking forward to the years of holy underwear. As far as I'm concerned it's a small price to pay for all the joy my little girl brings me.
Sent from my iPhone
My good friend had twins about 6 years ago. In that time he hasn't had a new pair of shoes and now cuts his own hair at the house, he even had a harbor chair put in his garage.
While all this may sound dreadful for some people I for one am looking forward to the years of holy underwear. As far as I'm concerned it's a small price to pay for all the joy my little girl brings me.
Sent from my iPhone
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