Been A Father for A Full Year
Today in 2022 I became a dad
TLDR: I was never into birthdays. My wife kind of changed it, but my daughter completely changed my focus. I celebrate my daughters birthday but also my wife’s willingness to provide me a beautiful child.
Like all my posts, I just write as I feel. Think of a subject and then just type.
Growing up during the age of social media, you find many people posting a photo and shout out instead of reaching out to the person privately. Seems performative to me. So I’ve lost interest in certain dates like birthdays because people only remembered if Facebook or LinkedIn reminded them, and then they’d post it on IG.
Whatever. I feel how I feel.
Today marks a year of my daughter being somewhat conscious and my wife tolerating me asking her questions as if she’s done this before. We were at a breakfast diner and the waitress asked what kind of fruit do we want to get for the baby. I looked and pointed at my wife like I have no obligation to know this answer.
Today was a travel day from Tampa to Richmond, yes on the little one’s birthday. But to start the day we had a GREAT time. A little breakfast with grandma, a good sized cake that she could dig her hands into as if no one else wanted any, and a large mess for me to clean up when everything was done.
Whenever the little one eats peanut butter or hummus she makes a complete mess of the high chair and the surrounding floor. She gets this cake and looks around with confusion because for the first time, we are telling her it’s okay to make a mess. Eventually she gives in and puts her hand through the top of the cake and just opens and closes her hand. Of course she has to giggle the entire time and stare at Mom as if she’s getting away with something. All I can think is…
What a great start to the day. Well until she rubs the back of her head with icing all over her hands. Still a good day but what a mess to clean up.
Side note: Highly annoyed that we pay a cleaning fee through AirBNB but the homeowner gave us check out instructions to start this dishwasher, organize the towels in the bathroom, and some other cleaning arrangements. What are we paying for then? We’ll save that for another day.
Held the little one throughout the entire trip, and she had the nerve to fall asleep in my arms. Twitching, kicking, and stretching combined with a big yawn. While it wasn’t her first time traveling on a plane, Mom and I knew how to counteract some of the nonsense. But on the final part of the flight things got ugly. Kicking, squirming, and all around just overtired. Ms. Rachel helped a little but not enough to stop her.
Mom pulled out the BIG GUNS… White cheddar Puffs!
(Clears throat) I mean I helped as well by holding the little one and the ipad showing Ms. Rachel. Some families value in teamwork you know!
Anyway! We are now home safely and I’m truly thankful to wife for her willingness to provide and share this experience with me. This year marker is as much of a celebration for her and it is the little one.
Curious if this post is no different than other’s posting on social about special dates. And here I am writing this. Good thing the wife doesn’t know about this blog or she’d never let me live the hypocrisy down.