Congrats! I’ve had four, and just brace yourself: the first year is hard. No matter how “good” the baby, no matter how well they sleep, it’s just hard work.
Ten years in and I’m seeing some of the hobbies come back, some of the personal goals. But I have a different perspective on them now. They are complements to who I am, not what define me, and I’m always ready to put them back on the shelf.
Maybe you won’t reach the programming heights you dreamed for yourself, but fatherhood and family are infinitely more rewarding.
As I pause to write this, my three oldest are reading books on the floor and teasing each other good-naturedly. My wife is playing peekaboo with our one year-old, who’s giggling non-stop and staring at her mother with adoring eyes. We haven’t bothered to clean up dinner yet. I have a baseball game on in the background, and I was supposedly reading when I slipped over to HN and saw this post. Going back to the family now - my book and HN can wait a little longer - cheers and God bless you and your family as you embark on this journey. All will be well.
> Ten years in and I’m seeing some of the hobbies come back, some of the personal goals. But I have a different perspective on them now. They are complements to who I am, not what define me, and I’m always ready to put them back on the shelf.
I have no children and have developed a similar perspective as I've gotten older. When I was younger, I wanted my extra-curricular endeavors to lead into a full-time career, money and notoriety. While I did make money and achieve some notoriety, those activities now inhabit--what I consider to be--a healthier space in my mind. I am content enjoying them while I do them and also content with putting them aside for stretches of time. For good or for bad, I no longer feel like I need to prove something to the world.
Ten years in and I’m seeing some of the hobbies come back, some of the personal goals. But I have a different perspective on them now. They are complements to who I am, not what define me, and I’m always ready to put them back on the shelf.
Maybe you won’t reach the programming heights you dreamed for yourself, but fatherhood and family are infinitely more rewarding.
As I pause to write this, my three oldest are reading books on the floor and teasing each other good-naturedly. My wife is playing peekaboo with our one year-old, who’s giggling non-stop and staring at her mother with adoring eyes. We haven’t bothered to clean up dinner yet. I have a baseball game on in the background, and I was supposedly reading when I slipped over to HN and saw this post. Going back to the family now - my book and HN can wait a little longer - cheers and God bless you and your family as you embark on this journey. All will be well.