9 Lessons I Have Learnt In 9 Months Of Being A Father
Fatherhood isn't just a biological representation of what a man should be or do; it's a system God uses to teach and instruct males on how to become men
Nine months ago, I held my daughter in my arms.
I was with my wife in the theatre all through. And I was among the first people to see my daughter, apart from my wife, the surgeon, his assistants, and the midwives and nurses.
Fatherhood isn't just a biological representation of what a man should be or do; it's a system God uses to teach and instruct males on how to become men
Ohhh... the warmth she brought to my heart made me start to understand fatherhood in a deeper level.
In this very short article, I'll be sharing nine lessons I have learnt so far in my career as a father (lol).
Fatherhood made me more tolerant: Yes. I found it easier to forgive and accommodate people. The ability to forgive is a higher function of the human mind. You will never understand until you experience it yourself. And for me, fatherhood made it easy for me to forgive people. I wish I could explain this better (maybe, I will in another article).
I became more patient: Before I got married, my beloved pastor admonished me about the need to be extra patient with my wife. I must say that I took that advice seriously. However, when I had my daughter, I noticed that I became even more patient.
I began to think more about the future: Many young boys don't understand the principles of planning for the future. They believe life is all about the now. So they do all sorts of things to satisfy their "now pleasures." When I had my daughter, it looked as if my eyes opened wide, and I suddenly began to care and think more about the future.
I suddenly stopped thinking about myself: Selfishness is a natural disease of man. We tend to think about ourselves more than others. People who have overcome selfishness are on another level entirely. My daughter brought with her a cleansing balm that healed me of all forms of selfishness.
I became more careful: Men are naturally careless and carefree. It's in their nature. Though I am naturally a calm fellow, my daughter's arrival made me realise the importance of being calm. In life, only the calm and gentle ones find it easy. Why? You see, most times, when we encounter a problem, the first natural response is to become scared (fright) or run away (flight). But if we can control ourselves and remain calm, I assure you that you will see a path leading you away from that problem or trouble.
I learnt how to plan: Don't wait for it to come before you start planning. Do it now. Put the appropriate measures in place and always be ready. Seeing my daughter every day strengthened my resolve to always have a plan. "Young man, never walk without a plan."
I learnt discipline: The only thing holding many people back from fulfilling their destiny is a lack of discipline. Some more sleep, some more fun, and some more of the things that weaken you and blur your vision. No one is saying fun is bad. Too much of it is bad. Young man, listen to this: do not abuse fun and leisure. There's time for everything. Learn to be balanced and disciplined. I am discovering that I must be disciplined if I want my daughter to enjoy me. Discipline will keep me here on earth longer for her to enjoy my presence.
I learnt responsibility: It's a sense of responsibility that guides real men. They know that there are people they must answer to, people they care for and nurture, so responsible men can't just live their lives the way they want. A set of unwritten golden rules guide their lives. My daughter may be little now (though she already knows how to throw tantrums), but a time will come when she'll start growing and begin to watch me. She'll learn from me. And I must (I have no choice) be responsible.
I learnt sacrifice: I feel that God designed fatherhood to teach men (and women) a lot of lessons about life. Fatherhood isn't just a biological representation of what a man should be or do; it's a system God uses to teach and instruct males on how to become men. It's more than what society tags it. It's deeper than it all. It's about sacrifice; it's about volunteering to always be in the front, no matter what. This is what defines manhood and fatherhood.
Let's start teaching our young boys what it means to become men. And teach our young girls what a man is.
I celebrate all men out there—those who have been in the game for years, those just coming in, and those who are planning on coming on board.
Fatherhood is an honourable thing.
Don't let perverse society tell you otherwise.
You can be a strong father.
And you'll be a strong father.
Happy Father's Day to all the men out there!
I love you all!
I share my thoughts about life here on “Unbounded.” I write about the things I am learning—leadership, entrepreneurship, tech, culture, finance, and politics.
If you feel this is what you’ll like, well, why not subscribe for free?
More knowledge Boss