The Great Paradigm Shift

The only thing that is accurate in the jumbled mess of advice I got before having a kid was in fact, "It's like nothing you've ever experienced."

Actually, I can't say that. Those first few Christmases as a kid when I beleived in Santa were up there. Really up there. But I was a kid, and didn't understand too much about pride or responsibility. Mix that into the Christmas thing and it's sort of like having a child. I also don't remember staring infinitely at Christmas gifts or coming to tears while thinking of myself leading Santa down the aisle.

The only incredibly great human feeling that is not mixed in with the whole child thing is sex and/or lust. thankfully, of course. When I think of all emotions that are good, lust is up there. It's often overlooked or avoided, but let's not forget what drives one to have children. My wife has the full monopoly on love mixed with lust, and in my opinion, that's how it should be. I'm not saying lust should be able to "carry" a marriage, because it can't. I'm just a firm supporter of getting into your favorite movie no matter how many times you've seen it.

Now my house seems like it is filled to the brim with all those good human emotions. I thought I would love my daughter like I love my dog just ten times more, but with all due credit to Abigail, it is definitely different. It slams your world with a sudden chage of perspective, sort of like traveling outside the US for the first time. I actually love my dog MORE now, but in one hell of a different way than I love Natalie.

The same goes for my wife. I love her more than before she had Natalie, and that was a hell of a lot. Now she is not only my freind, business partner, lover and wife, she is also my co-author and publisher of my favorite book called Natalie.

A book with a general outline but unknown chapters ahead. A book that I can't and don't want to put down. A book that already makes you think of the sequel after just reading the first chapter.