Nervously Excited and Thankfully Prepared. I hope.

Now that we’re in our final days before our due date, friends and family regularly ask how my wife’s doing; she’s doing well, thanks.  Then they’ll ask me how I’m doing.  Well…

I’m excited to be a father; raring to get going, like a car revving at the start line.  Sure, I’m supposed to slow down and take advantage of these final days sans childcare, but I REALLY want to start rocking this kid’s world, rocking it to sleep, and rocking this parenting thing with my wife.

Ready...set...go!

I’m nervous to be a father and have more questions than I can list.  But that won’t stop me from still listing a few in no particular order.

1. What if I can’t calm the baby?
2. What if it only cries when I hold it?
3. How will I deal when it doesn’t act like me or have my personality?
4. How will I not be a super-worrier when it gets its first fever and we call the doctor?
5. How will my relationship with my wife change?
6. What if it doesn’t sign a contract to play small forward for my New York Knicks in 2034?

I’m aware that being nervous is normal and healthy; so to answer the questions above:

1. There’s no manual to calming a baby that works every time; what worked yesterday may not work tomorrow.
2. Invest in a good pair of earplugs and continue showing it 100% love and patience; the cries stop eventually.
3. Each baby is unique and its personality should be celebrated as long as it also learns to set the dinner table.
4. Embrace it by telling yourself that being a super-worrier simply means you’re a super-caregiver.  Yeah, that’s it!
5. It will become stronger through this powerful bond that we created.  Our love and care for each other will be shared with the baby, even when we’re zombies from sleepless nights.
6. Signing with the Warriors would also be acceptable because it’s a local team so we could attend games.  Otherwise, we’ll fall back on hoping our kid maximizes its opportunities, treats others with respect, and lives a good life.

It’s the final countdown!

I’m prepared as much as I want as a soon-to-be father.  I’ve spoken to dads (and moms), I’ve read articles, and I’ve viewed videos.  Better than all of those is that I’ve experienced my mother’s and father’s tender, loving approach.  I can only hope that my child also learns the value of having emotions, expressing love, and seeking the joys of life.

One person’s overpreparation is another person’s starting point

I’m anxious to raise, with my wife, a human to function in this world, interact with others, and navigate large and small problems as they age.  I’m very curious to see and experience the world through a child’s eyes.  Things I know how to do (and take for granted) were learned through the lessons of my parents.  It’ll be amazing to teach and pass along knowledge I’ve gained.  Plus it’ll make me feel smarter for knowing how some of the world works.

I’m incredibly thankful that my wife has given me the opportunity to stumble, fall, learn, and (with any luck) succeed at being a stay-at-home father.  We’re so very lucky to be in a position, with her as the greater breadwinner, for me to leave my job, take the reins, and ride this rollercoaster of a child’s early years.  Let’s hope I don’t disappoint.

I’m lots of things right now.