Something about fatherhood

Just a quick post since I should be working. Lilly is 11 months today. Almost 1 year. Which is hard to believe, time goes by so quickly. I've been thinking about fatherhood. I've been thinking back on everything. Trying to remember what it was like before Lilly, that's to say waiting for Lilly.

Recently I read a friend's blog post in which he was complaining about baby books for fathers-to-be. I recognized the picture he had posted of The Guy's Guide, which is mostly crap. In response I posted a comment:

The best advice I was given, which wasn't advice, really, but just something to turn around in my head before and especially after the birth and even now at almost one year, was from a friend: he said to me, Get ready for a whole new kind of love. And it's true. At least for me. Another thing, which I heard on NPR, and on a totally unrelated topic, was that parenting is the hardest job, and it's given to amateurs. This provided a little breathing room. And finally, in a book I received from my father about fathers and daughters, you know, one of those gift books with quotes, I read something like this: The hardest part of parenting is letting your hopes for you child outweigh your fears. There you have it.

There's no telling what advice is best for fathers (or for mothers). Really it's different for all. Of course. Some like funny, some like facts, others like tips and others timetables (please excuse the alliteration). Anyway, the point being... Is there a point to all this?

I just thought I'd share. What has been the most remarkable thing about becoming a father is that whole new kind of love: that ever-expanding love I feel for my daughter. I am forever grateful and happier for it.