Well, we did it. My wife and I made it to the one-year mark. (Oh, and so did Lucy.) The first two weeks seemed like a millennium, the last fifty seemed like a millisecond.
So, what have I learned, if anything?
• It sounds so dang cliché to say, “It’s harder than I imagined, but better than I imagined.” It may be cliche, but is it ever true.
• I’m still trying to figure out what a “normal” schedule should be. I’m never quite sure I’m spending time correctly. I feel like I’m still trying to get in a groove. It seems like I should have it figured out by now. I also get the feeling that “normal” is gone forever.
• I can be with Lucy, OR I can work on something else. Either way I’m a pretty patient person. But trying to do both at once drives me insane and obliterates my patience.
• Baby diapers can really STINK. But I don’t mind changing them as much as I thought I would. I think dirty diapers are overhyped.
• Most of the world is out of whack when it comes to life balance. What most would consider standard operating procedure is way over the edge, if you ask me. I think we all need to slow the hell down for two seconds and stop trying to be and do and have everything.
• We avoided colic but got to experience the worst of teething. Pick your poison, I guess…
[Read the rest of this article over at Dad-O-Matic, a cool site for Dads, by Dads.]
Good post.
Love the comic. We say that to our kids all the time. “There’s a reason God made you so stinkin’ cute”.
I’ve had a couple bad teethers but nothing, I mean nothing compares to colic. I have a friend who’s daughter had colic and there are no words to describe how maddening it was for her. You can count your blessings for escaping that one.
Schedule? What’s that? Besides, “normal” is overrated. We gave up on “normal” a long time ago and we’re way happier now.
And when we stopped trying to do and have it all, we realized that we already did have it all. Plus a couple of bonuses, too.
I think there comes a point in life where everyone finally figures out that they already have it all. The question is when it actually happens. I hate it when people figure it out too late, which is a big reason why I do what I do, but I am thrilled to hear that you already learned the “secret.” (Not that I didn’t already know that ;)
I actually had colic as a youngster. I still find myself apologizing to my mother, 34 years later.