March 26th. Emily’s due date for our second child is getting closer and closer each passing day and it’s surreal to think that in less than a month another Harris (gender TBD) will be under our roof and in our tender care. It’s comical to think how naive and oblivious I was before Colin joined our world in terms of what I thought parenting would entail. Never in my wildest dreams did I fathom some of the experiences and emotions that I would encounter being a father. There’s been plenty of joyful and rewarding moments, however, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the ‘other’ parts of being a parent (no, Colin isn’t smiling all the time, Grandma); the sleepless and never-ending nights; handling the temper tantrums thrown by toddlers and the appropriate ways to respond to them; the constant nurturing and responsibilities placed in front of you on a daily basis when raising a child; and, the stress and pure exhaustion that being a parent brings and how to not let the overwhelming and taxing components of the commitment get the best of you. Here are four things that I was believe I was pretty unconscious about in regards to parenting before Colin:

1. Sleep is Overrated (But Cat Naps are Life Savers): As most first time parents find out early on, sleep is a precious commodity that you undeniably took for granted pre-parentedhood. Despite that, you figure out methods (i.e. cat naps worked wonders for me) to help alleviate your lack of sleep and rest. Moreover, I discovered just how resilient and gritty I was without consistent beauty sleep and a full battery charge. Colin didn’t begin sleeping through the night on a consistent basis until almost a year-and-a-half, therefore, I know all about the sleepless and frustrating nights trying to get regular sleep. Even though I was running on little to no sleep, I still was able to conquer my day at work and then come home and take care of all the other duties expected of me. The long nights invoke a sense of appreciation and revelation about sleep that I never thought I would have before.
2. It Really Does Take a Village: I knew that my immediate family and in-laws were going to play a big part in Colin’s development and care taking, nonetheless, I had no idea I would be as appreciative of it as I am today. Once I identified early on just how much work, in addition to physical and mental exertion, being a parent required I recognized just how imperative a helping hand was going to be in raising Colin. From my mother-in-law being our full-time caretaker when Emily and I work to my immediate family making regular trips down to visit us, my gratitude and reverence for my family has never been stronger.
3. Kids Bring Out Your Youthful Side: As hard as it can be sometimes mustering up the energy to keep up with him, I always savor my time at the end of the day with Colin. The playfulness and silliness that it prompts brings out a side of me that re-energizes me mentally and physically, in addition to awakening memories and nostalgia of my childhood. Moreover, it builds upon and fosters a more wholesome bond between Colin and I.
4. How Much I Would Genuinely Need Emily: I can’t even fathom what parenting would be without my beautiful wife and best friend. She’s the glue that holds this family together and I know I owe her a debt of gratitude more than she knows. Her patience, fortitude & work ethic are just a few of the qualities that I strive everyday to match. She inspires me on a day-to-day basis by how naturally and effortlessly she navigates the daily challenges of a career, parenting, and her multitude of miscellaneous duties that she takes care of. She keeps me positive and upbeat, talks sense into me and whips me into shape when I need it, and always gives me an open hear when I just need to vent or to give me advice when I desperately need it.

Parenting is, and more than likely will be, the hardest chapter of my life. Nonetheless, it’s also the most joyous and rewarding. I’ve found out that there’s some long days, some hard days, some days where I feel completely hopeless and futile. However, those days are few and far between in terms of how many days are on the opposite end of the spectrum; The days where my heart fills with joy as I watch Colin rub Emily’s belly; the moment when Colin gives me a big hug and kiss and tells me he loves me; watching Colin learn new vocabulary and get excited about learning new things; and, lastly, just the journey of parenting and making sure to soak it all in. I blinked and Colin is already two and it won’t be long before Colin and #Baby2 are grown and are off living their own lives. Hence, that’s why I strive to make sure I enjoy and relish all of the different stages of parenting right now and in the future and to ensure that I never look too far ahead to the future. Jim Rohn put it best when he said, “happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.”

Thanks for reading!

— Chris