For a mother, a powerful connection of love is established early on and grows ever stronger with time.
Feeling this bond of love, establishing a connection to a life that you cannot see or hear, except for the heart beats, ultrasound images and occasional kicks on the mother’s belly is challenging, to put it…mildly!
This connection then transforms into reality. Holding this tiny human being, that shares half your DNA, overwhelms you with unfathomable joy and apprehension.
As you begin to establish your role as a father to a child, that now understands, interacts and demands your time and attention, you realize that you have a lot to learn!
As time passes by, the responsibilities change. Finding the balance between discipline and love…..suddenly the diaper changes and sleep interruptions seem so much simpler!
Teenagers and beyond now seem like the next bend, around a rollicking journey of intense river rafting!
As I get older and grapple between my roles as a parent, and professional, there is more appreciation of similar challenges my father would have faced.
Maintaining that sometimes formal, strict, yet loving behavior, in ways that were less direct, compared to my mother, must have felt like walking a tightrope! Balancing that occasional nod of approval, smile of appreciation, and admonition, to encourage more success in every endeavor.
The impact of a dad on the lives of his children goes further than one generation.
Dedicated to all dads on their complex and sometimes confusing parenting journey!
Anand's Thoughts 