After Dahlia

It’s amazing to me the change that takes place after the birth of your first child. The world suddenly finds itself a new axis, pivoting around your little girl (at least in the scope of your sleep-deprived, perpetually distracted Daddy brain). You get offended when passers-by don’t stop and stare in wonder at your baby — whose attention you will stop at no limits to get, whose sleep patterns are constantly the subject of water cooler conversations, and whose happy glances and jerky motor responses have displaced every clever sitcom.

The realization that, in fact, all of humanity perpetuates by producing these tiny creatures and that countless men and women have had children is almost too much to bear. And you realize that this is actually how normal people think and you’re vaguely aware that a previous you — a now very distant you — used to think think exactly the same way. _What’s the big deal about children?_ That previous you had enough tact to never actually say that out loud, but the thought permeated many conversations with parents, and you wince at your open ignorance.

But now, here you are on day 21 AD (After Dahlia), hoping to get a social glance while changing diapers in the middle of the night, sharing tips for calming techniques with your family, and turning into a big mush whenever you get a quiet moment with this new little person.