Happy Father's Day! Today is a very special day for me, being a father is the best thing that has ever happened to me. So today I'd like to share some thoughts on fatherhood with you, no big revelations, no tying it back to business or marketing, just a few simple thoughts on my experience.
What I'm thinking about fatherhood this weekend
- I never imagined I could love someone as much as my daughter. - So far I think the difference is loving someone who needs you for everything and relies on you completely. It's cliche, but loving a child is a selfless and unconditional love that I'd heard and read about, but couldn't really understand until I experienced it myself.
- I'm surrounded by great dads. - Maybe it's like when you buy a new car and then start seeing the same car everywhere you go, but since becoming a dad, I feel like amazing dads are everywhere in my life. My team at work is full of Dads of kids of similar ages and it is amazing to see everyone balance work and parenting. All the fathers I know are deeply involved in their kids' lives and are making the stereotype of fathers who barely know there children a thing of the past.
- My favorite quote since being a father is "The days are long, but the years are short". - I'm trying to keep it in mind through any challenging times, because it isn't all fun and games, some days are tough. But having a little human growing up by leaps and bounds is a great perspective changer, they grow so fast and each stage has its own parts about it to enjoy. Another great quote is "One day you will put your child down for the last time, and never pick them up again”, a great reminder to appreciate every moment.
- Being a father is the most responsibility I've ever had. - Not only about being able to feed and clothe her, that part I was ready for. What I didn't realize is the pressure to do a good job raising her, letting her learn and develop, and how scary it can be if you think you aren't doing everything right. I imagine it will get even harder the older and more independent she gets.
- Learning to be my own kind of father. - I'm very lucky that I have an amazing dad, he gave me a great childhood and is a role model I look up to both as a husband and a father. You often hear about people breaking generational trauma, they learn what not to do from their own childhood. But for me, I have to learn that even though my own father was amazing, I don't have to be exactly like him. I have my own strengths and weaknesses and my own personality that will shape the kind of father I am and childhood I give my daughter.
- Becoming parents changes the marriage. - My wife and I are connected more than ever before, and she can see me trying to be a good father and the love I have for our child. But it is also taking away time and energy that I could have given to her. There's another person in our relationship now, I've heard two schools of thought, one that the kids should always come first and the other that the parents and their relationship should always come first. I'm not sure where I stand yet, but will continue to work on being a better father AND husband.
So that's this weekend's list. I am so looking forward to this journey of fatherhood. Happy Father's Day to all you dads!
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