“There really are places in the heart you don’t know exist until you love a child.”
-Anne Lamott
Becoming a parent isn’t the right choice for everyone, but it’s been a wonderful decision for me.
Parenthood has taught me more about myself – and about living life in the moment – than I realized I didn’t know. Becoming a father was a big leap for me because I’m not much of a risk taker.
Through nearly all of high school, I was too shy to date or even attend a school dance. Early in my senior year, I decided I should attend at least one dance during high school – so I quietly slipped into a dance at our gym for a peek. I sat by myself on the bleachers, soaking in the music and lights, just people watching. I liked it, which surprised me, but I never budged from the bleachers that night. Later that year, I asked a girl out for the first time, to our senior prom. Nervously and awkwardly, I danced. I wasn’t a good dancer yet but I had fun.
It occurs to me that getting married is a lot like walking into the dance. You don’t have to go, but no other experience is quite like it. Having a child is like getting out on the dance floor. It’s a lot more nerve-wracking than sitting on the sidelines; you don’t always know what you’re doing; and it wears you out – but it’s a great experience.
Parenthood is not for everybody, but it has been a wonderful adventure for me.
INSIDE PEEK: Robert Peek 