One Year with Sophia

Tomorrow Sophia turns one. This is obviously a time of reflection for Adina and me, especially today, as we think back to what we were doing before an unexpected early arrival.

When I see pictures of myself on the day Sophia was born, I feel like I’m looking at a different person. I look at that person and think, “He had no idea what he was doing.” Which is totally correct — I didn’t. But one of the most remarkable things I’ve found in becoming a parent is how much of caring for a child comes naturally. You learn what your child needs, you learn how they respond to things, and you build the instinctive knowledge you need — along with everything you read online, too.

Today I wanted to reflect on a few things I think I’ve learned in the last year:

• Sophia will take whatever energy I can give her. If I have a little, she’ll take that; if I have a lot, she’ll take that too. I actually find this very helpful.
• It has become almost impossible to keep up with all my commitments in the way I would like. I’ve learned that I need to be okay with that, and that it comes with a need to prioritise more. It’s helpful to remember that the reason I need to do this is because I am trying to be present my family.
• I’m an anxious person by nature, but I’ve been surprised by how well I’m able to handle things I thought I’d be much more concerned about. I think this comes down to having a very capable partner who supports us both, and also the instinctive feeling that when something is going wrong, I put my focus on Sophia’s needs before my own.
• I’ve found it really valuable not to focus on the things Sophia will do in the future and wish for them to come — like walking, talking, etc. This helps me value where she is at any given moment, because I know I can never get that time back.

I don’t consider myself anywhere near an expert in parenting. I’m just trying to do the best I can every day — and some days are better than others. But every day I’m so grateful that we have this little bundle in our lives. I love her so much.

Happy Birthday, Sophia. 🎂