I Was Waiting for Fatherhood to Get Easier—And Almost Missed It

Before my son was born, I remember being incredibly excited about all the things I wanted to do with him. Zoo trips, playing games, wrestling, exploring together—I had this whole picture in my head that I couldn’t wait to live out.

And then… he was born.

And, well, it wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be.

For the first few months, he was basically a lump—a beautiful, fragile lump—and to be honest, I was terrified I was going to break him. He felt so delicate, like something I had to protect more than enjoy. As he got older and heartier, I thought okay, now we’re getting there—but then came the nap schedules, snacks, tantrums, and a whole new level of chaos. Don’t get me wrong, we had fun. We did outings as a family, even a few solo trips to the park. But it still didn’t match the version I had imagined before he was born.

Then something changed.

Around the time he turned five or six, naps were gone, his stamina grew, and suddenly, we had more time together just doing… stuff. Random things. He could tell me what he wanted to eat or where he wanted to go. We started going to football games together. He didn’t always make it to the end, but we were doing things—side by side—and it was actually fun for both of us.

As he gets older, I’m starting to realize how every stage has its own kind of magic.

When he was a newborn, it was that baby smell, that tiny fragile body you’d never hold again in quite the same way. When he was a toddler, he was still completely reliant on me—but I could also see his personality starting to form, his voice showing up, his preferences and quirks starting to shine. Watching that unfold was wild and wonderful.

Now, as a kid, he's bigger, louder, more independent. But I love the conversations we have—some smart, some silly, all real. We argue. He pushes boundaries. Sometimes I’m exhausted, annoyed, or just done. But even in those moments, I know this is a time in his life where he still wants to be with me. That’s something I don’t take for granted.

Every stage of your kid’s life is a gift. If you spend it just waiting for the hard parts to end, you’ll miss the whole thing.

Would I want to go back to the newborn or toddler phase? Not a chance. But am I thankful I took the time, when I was in it, to notice and appreciate it?

Absolutely.