Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Hard Work

baby tux
Air Guitar!
You know, this parenting thing is hard.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s incredible too.  It’s a blur of amazing, exhausting, demanding, and rewarding all at the same time.
One minute I’m holding a sleeping ball of love in my arms, feeling good about myself and the whole daddy thing, while the next moment I’m cringing as the ear piercing screams resume and I come under attack by tiny hands with sharp little claws.  What happened to my life?
The past seven weeks have been a challenge that has tested our levels of endurance beyond anything I imagined, and I have found patience and strength that I didn't know existed.  But I can’t take the credit, it’s Mom that’s been amazing.  She has held this operation together through it all with a mixture that is one part motherly instinct, one part gritty determination, and two part boobs.  It hasn’t exactly been a couple’s retreat at our house for the past two months, but words cannot describe the love and respect I feel for my wife. 
We were warned of the late nights, the diaper changes, the crying, the zombie-like nighttime wandering, and the feeling of waking up exhausted in the mornings.  But it cannot be fully understood until experienced firsthand.
The last couple of nights have been especially trying. As my wife put it, it seemed our baby was abducted by aliens. He’s doing much better today, and I’m sure there will be many more rough patches in the future, but we’ll get through it, we don't have a choice...  
On a high note, Daddy did get his first smile yesterday.  A real smile too, I’ve learned the difference between a I’m just crapping my pants and a hey dad smile. It makes it all worthwhile.
But one thing is for certain, this little guy is going to be an only child!


baby sleeping
Worth it All...

2 comments:

  1. Ha! I remember when I was like, "Definitely an only child! I can't handle more than this." People told us we'd forget and we'd want another. I remember looks and commentary describing their insanity. Now I'm on #3,...by choice.
    Just concentrate on the now. The zombie phase takes time. Our Wee Lass is about 6MO and we're JUST de-zombifying. Remember, you've got a brotherhood out here. Ye shall not be alone!

    Jason
    The Cheeky Daddy

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  2. Thanks Jason, I'll keep that in mind. But in the back of my mind I'm thinking this is it!

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