Well, I’ve been a father now for 2 weeks and it is amazing the transformation that is happening in me.  First, I never knew I could love as much as love both my son and my wife.  Just that feeling alone is enough to bring a tear to my eyes.  I honestly don’t know what I would do without either of them now.

The first few days were quite surreal.  Even after we got our son home from the hospital, it still didn’t fully set in that he was mine, and furthermore, that he is my responsibility for years to come.  Over the last week that realization has set in and most of the time I feel like I’m ready, but there are other times when it scares the heck out of me.

One of the biggest adjustments is the lack of sleep.  One thing my wife and I both love is our sleep.  We knew that when our son came that would all change since they have to eat every 2-3 hours for a while which means little sleep for all of us.  At times, it has hit me like a ton of bricks and I find myself in a bit of a fog most of the time.  Hopefully I’ll adjust to the lack of sleep soon; I’m sure it’ll happen just as he starts to sleep longer, huh?

Probably the biggest impact this has had on my is a much greater respect for my parents.  For the most part, I’ve always gotten along with them and since I’ve been on my own for the last 12 years, my relationship with them has been great.  Having a child of my own though has helped me realize all that my parents did for me that I never knew nor could I have understood prior to having a child myself.  I also know that all of our work now won’t be understood until our son has a child of his own.  Makes a lot of other parts of life seem so insignificant.

Overall, the last two weeks have let me feel nearly every emotion: joy, satisfaction, fear, love, love, and more love.  My life will never be the same.  My priorities are completely shifted, and finally my life has a true purpose.  I won’t be defined by my success at work.  I won’t be defined by any of my hobbies.  I will be defined by my job as a husband and most importantly as a father.  My success or failure will be made apparent through my son.  I know I will make mistakes, I’ll lose my cool, I’ll get frustrated.  But I can also promise this.  I will do my best to be the example my son needs and deserves to have in his life; just as my father was to me.