Favourites

Matt Knox asked me this over breakfast the other day,
"What's your favourite thing about being a dad?"

My brain spun. I didn't have an answer. I think I fluffed a reply with something like "it's not something you have favourites for, it's something you live for."

Yeah, that's a bit lame. But it's a tough question. I could've easily worked out a top-ten list of the things I didn't like doing. Like emptying a potty. Ever tried that? Not pleasant. Not fun at all.* But favourite? No, too hard.

Anyway, I thought about it later.

What's best about being a dad is being married.

Yes, of course, there's all sorts of heart-warming moments with the baby. The arrival. The first smile. In fact, every smile. Talking, walking, crawling, holding. Just being able to hold and cuddle. Seeing parts of you. It's a reason to live.

All that is granted.

But I couldn't do this alone. I couldn't manage. I'm shattered just feeding at nights and doing two playgrounds in a weekend.

Knowing that I have a soulmate to entrust with the little one's upbringing is everything.

And actually, getting married is excellent preparation for having a baby. The stress, the organisation, the planning; coordinating relatives; coordinating jobs. It you can get through that together, you're well prepared for the shock of having a baby.

Mind you though, what I miss most is: being married.

I miss whiling away the weekends doing nothing. I miss snuggling up on the sofa watching TV late into the night. I miss the lazy Sunday mornings in bed.

For now, for us, those times are gone. We're in bed by ten at the latest, too tired to talk much. We don't watch TV for fear of waking the sleeping one. Besides, it's too much noise for us.

I miss my wife. I love my wife. I depend on my wife. Every day.

* Top ten worst things:

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