As a parent, I’ve done a tremendous amount of reading on how other parents do it. Parenting, that is. There’s a sea of opinions on how to properly raise your child, with passive fear mongering passed along in case you don’t follow the instructions.
One thing I’ve realized about being a parent is the value of time with your children. Especially as infants, they’re learning to understand and make sense of the world. As a parent, you are their most important guide to help them through this process.
I’ve learned how important it is to be there for Atlas during the little moments that might seem insignificant.
One of my favorite things is being there for him when he wakes up from a nap. Usually, he will fall back asleep. However, for the brief moment his eyes are open, he sees me; there and ready for him.
These moments matter a lot to me. Judging by the smile on his face when he squints his eyes open, it seems like they matter to him too. It’s times like these that I truly experience the joy in parenting.
The more time I spend with Atlas, the more my view of the world seems to shift. The things that don’t matter seem to melt from my focus, and I start to see beauty in the little moments that pass with our time together.
Parenting has helped me deal with my own emotions a tremendous amount. In a lot of ways, I’ve realized how similar I am to Atlas; we both get fussy and sometimes need to throw a fit before we take a nap.
His ups and downs aren’t a reflection of his character; they’re a reflection of his needs at the moment. That was important for me to realize for both of us.
Being a parent is exhausting. It feels like a full-time job that doesn’t have vacation time. However, becoming a Dad has been the most incredible thing to have ever happened to me and I cherish every moment that comes with being a Dad – even the crying.
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