Five months into parenthood, it feels like I’ve stepped into an entirely new dimension of life.
1
Parenting is like discovering the most expansive hobby in human history.
There are books, skills, gear, communities, hot takes, adventures, events, challenges, wins, and endless conversation. A whole new identity opens up. Unlike other hobbies, this one evolves forever, and it even loves you back. No wonder parents never stop talking about it.
2
There is joy on tap, every day.
Snuggles, kisses, smiles, giggles, warmth, gentle grasping and pokes, feeding, development milestones
Moments that feel full and complete. Playful. Silly. Where you’re simply soaked in love and care.
It’s hard to imagine these feelings without living them. But it’s unsurprising that our biology, which has evolved solely for propagation of the genes, is tuned to enjoy corresponding behaviors.
3
It is also tiring and genuinely hard.
The sleep deprivation in the first month is brutal. Days blur into endless cycles of nap, feed, poo, play, chores.
It helps to be in a stable place in life, to have a strong relationship, and real support. I have a new, profound respect for all parents — and for the people and systems that make parenthood survivable.
Things did get easier for us after a couple of months.
You do lose time for other parts of your life. But strangely, those parts also fade in importance because your baseline sense of contentment rises.
4
The future suddenly becomes vivid.
My daughter will be 25 in 2050. That used to be an abstract year. Now it feels significant and real.
I find myself more motivated to stay healthy, build the means to create experiences, and be there for her.
I want the world itself to be better for her.
5
And underneath everything: life itself feels like a miracle.
A microscopic speck of an egg becomes a human being almost automatically - turning air and milk into a living body, guided by an algorithm written in invisible genes.
The intelligence and complexity of this process is far beyond the comprehension or control of our conscious minds.
It is humbling.
And somehow, liberating.
That is why we named our daughter Mira.