So fatherhood is about 3 months away for me. I'm definitely excited, but at the same time, I'm not really sure what to expect. That mix of uncertainty and excitement with impending fatherhood coming into my life is a brand new emotion for me. I'm frequently receiving comments when I tell people I'm going to have a baby. Things like, your life will never be the same, you will be sleep-deprived, good luck. haha. I think it's wonderful that so many people can be humorous but also real with me about what to expect.
When it comes to embracing the unknown, there are equal parts of excitement and uncertainty that continue to pour into my daily thoughts. On one hand, I can't wait to teach my daughter about the world around us, how to play softball, and how to treat people right. On the other hand, I gotta keep this human being alive! That is absolutely crazy to think about! Now that that seriousness has been thrown out there, we can tone it down to less serious, but still important things. Like how do I make sure she is instilled with a sense of work ethic, self-discipline, respect for self and others, etc? Especially when these are things that I myself am still working on day in and day out. I'm sure it won't be easy, but it is a task that I'm fully ready for. As I anticipate this life-altering experience, I do my best to simply make sure I am a good person to look up to. I'm aware that children look up to their parents as superheroes, and I'm hoping that I can meet her expectations. And I'm also not entirely excited about the day she finds out I'm only human. But again, these are all unknowns, and ones that I'm embracing as I prepare for her arrival.
Receiving humorous comments about fatherhood are things I sincerely appreciate about the people around me. And I've also come to realize that many of these comments are funny because they are true! That being said, I don't really know how to prepare for being sleep-deprived. But I used to play video games until 4 am in high school and I may have pulled a couple of Adderall all-nighters (not proud of it) during college, so hopefully I've had a little bit of training in this department. Regardless, the comments from all the well-wishers are something I hold near and dear to my heart. I realize that they are funny jokes which are based in reality, but overall I understand that my friends and family are supportive of my upcoming journey and that means so much to me.
Speaking of the upcoming journey, there is ultimately only one thing I can do: embrace it. I know I will have a support system during this transition, and that's something that I'm so grateful for. They say it takes a village, and there is no shortage of that in my life! Along with those around me, my inner self is learning to embrace the sense of responsibility and sense of love for this child. It's so strange because I haven't even met her yet! And while I'm preparing for the challenges of fatherhood, I'm also looking forward to the joys that it will bring.
For me and for anyone who is anticipating becoming a father, I think we can agree that there is a mix of emotions from excitement to uncertainty and plenty of comments from well-wishers that also provide insight into the humorous realities that are on the horizon. But ultimately, it comes down to embracing the unknown, adapting to change, and cherishing this transformational experience.