Finally getting the hang of being a Dad

It’s been 8.5 months since Colin was born and I’m finally feeling like I’m starting to get the hang of this fatherhood thing. The first few months were actually okay for me as my adrenaline powered through. Starting around month 3 or 4, I really started to struggle with the weight of work and personal life on top of Dad duties.

It was a rough few months for me. It was a stressful work situation and we also threw in a cross-country move into the equation. It felt like the excitement of moving back to New York was offset completely by the stress and anxiety of life.

We have now crossed the 2 month mark of being in New York and life is much better. We finally feel settled in and know our way around the city again. I’ve worked a lot on myself personally especially in the last month and I’m starting to feel the benefits of that as well.

It wasn’t rocket science for me, but really basic things. I aimed to get more sleep and ensure that I wasn’t a zombie most days. Part of that was reducing the drinks I had on the weekends as well as the amount of social activities. Doing less was more for me and allowed me to enjoy my days and life more.

I tried to be more present when I was with Colin which included putting away my phone and email and just focused on enjoying playing or taking care of him. I got into a good routine with working out and work. Lastly and maybe most importantly, I changed my mindset on things.

Instead of being anxious about taking Colin places, I embraced it and tried to look forward to things. This will again be tested as we take Colin to Seattle for a wedding this week. There will be a lot of travel and there will be parts that will be stressful, but I’m staying positive and excited that I get to travel with my son.

Being a Dad is an amazing thing and I’m glad I’m back in a place where the pros outweigh the cons by a large margin.