Okay, this is emotional and scary. Emotional because being able to see the next generation of me for the first time is a heart-melting experience. And scary because with the arrival of a baby, arrive the uncertainties.
I think every living being wants to be a parent. Because intrinsically no species wants to go extinct. I’m no different. I wanted to be a parent too. But I was afraid of the uncertainties. But that couldn’t stop me from being a parent for any longer. My son, Neil was born on October 27 this year.
Some of the major uncertainties that I was battling with were about my financial situation, maturity needed to be a parent, the patience needed, whether I’ll be a good parent, and lack of outside help. While I’m not sure how much of those uncertainties remain to this day, but the gift of parenthood outweighs everything.
The chapter that begins with parenthood closes a chapter that is no less special in someone’s life. The relationship of husband-wife isn’t always sweet but it’s heavenly. Two lives start a journey towards a common destiny on a vehicle called love. On the way, they pick up passengers called children. Pregnancy and childbirth shouldn’t end all that that keeps husband-wife together but instead should add to that fascinating journey.
I saw her suffering for 40 weeks, I saw her quit the things she loved, I saw her in excruciating pain of labor, I saw people put a knife on her to cut my son out, and I saw her incapacitated for days. If any of these sufferings has any meaning it’s that I’ve got to play my part in parenting.
The best of parenthood? In my opinion, it’s the relief that the survival of me is no longer dependent on the survival of my own life. My child carries what is me and he’ll continue to do that long after I’m gone. He is me. Likewise, he is her. How exciting is that!? This is the gift of parenthood.
SHAHED I. NOYON 
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