2010 was my first full year of fatherhood. 365 days of being a dad. In 2009 I was a dad for 4 months, for 8 months I was essentially a teenager – staying up late, sleeping in late, playing video games and just generally being irresponsible. Those days are now long gone.The year is almost over. That means it’s a time for reflection and top ten lists. You can’t turn around without reading one and debating its merits. Now it’s my turn to add a Top Ten list, one that likely won’t include the movie Inception.
With apologies to David Letterman, here’s my Top Ten Fatherhood Moments for 2010. It’s in no particular order of course, because I can’t pick a favourite. They’re all my favourites.
- My Manternity Leave – This summer I took over 4 months off to be a dad. Just that, a dad. I had no clue what I was getting into. I had no clue what I was going to do. I purchased a diaper bag and pushed a stroller around my neighbourhood all day and heard every Mr. Mom joke imaginable. It was wonderful.
- First Words – My daughter said her first words this year. Her first word was a very special one. Here’s a hint it starts with "da" and ends in "excited father brimming with pride."
- First Steps – She learned to walk. Now she runs.
- First Birthday – Her birthday was fun and sort of a disaster, which is what I think you’re supposed to expect from baby birthdays. There was cake and a minor head wound due to an un-baby-proofed coffee table.
- No Sleep – This year, I unplugged my alarm clock. It always went off after our daughter woke us up. Thanks to fatherhood, I’m now ready to be an extra on the television show The Walking Dead.
- Father’s Day – My first. It’s like there’s a trend here. Thankfully, there were no ties involved.
- Inception – I couldn’t resist. But there’s a reason it’s on my list, my wife and I left our daughter with her grandparents for a weekend this year. During that weekend we saw Inception and slept. Then we woke up and were unsure if we were still seeing Inception or were back in reality.
- Personality – Our daughter has begun to develop her personality. Her personality is this unique combination of my wife’s personality, my personality, and the personality of a sugar-high chipmunk. Its quite charming/tiring.
- Daycare – The expense. The never-ending illnesses. Daycare is my daughter’s day-job. Our parenting now mainly happens on weekends.
- Diapers, diapers, and more diapers – Changing diapers is fatherhood. There’s a small landfill somewhere made exclusively by my daughter. Sorry David Suzuki.
That was 2010. Who knows what 2011 will hold. I imagine most of my daughter’s firsts have already been accomplished. In 2011 my daughter will be turning two years old. Two. The twos. I hear they’re exciting – terribly exciting.
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