Six weeks of fatherhood and already I'm defining myself by the way my kid sees me. I am Thick Hairy Arms that lift him up and down (which is different from Mom's Soft and Smooth Arms). I am Smiling Moon Face with Glasses at other times of the day. I am Stinky Breath at 4 a.m. Beard Stubble Man. I am Waiter, Maid, Chauffeur, Personal Assistant, Wipe My Butt Guy.

Actually my wife is all of these things and more. I'm just the Assistant Waiter, Assistant Maid, etc. But in the past six weeks I've gotten a good dose of fatherhood. I like it. Like any new job it's all fun and exciting right now. I'm sure there will be days ahead that won't be so much fun. But after completing six weeks, I'd say that fatherhood is shaping up to be one of the most interesting and rewarding jobs I've ever had. Like I said, it's early yet.

My son, Rocco, (hey, no laughing at the name!) has taught me many things in only a short time. We already have a couple of things in common, big meals and long naps among them. Roc's not much for TV at this point, but he does enjoy watching the ceiling fan. Sometimes we'll watch it together for hours. Pretty lights...spinny things...ooohhh....aaahhh... Rocco has also helped me rediscover some of the little things that are easy to overlook in life. A warm blanket is good. A wet bottom is bad. A big dog licking your face is startling at first...but funny!

Rocco has taught me to appreciate sunrises, which I have seen more of in the last six weeks than in all of the 34 years prior. In fact the whole sleep deprivation aspect of parenthood is something my wife and I severely underestimated. It's brutal. Over the past six weeks we've often wondered if our deceased relatives were aware of Rocco, watching over him like guardian angels. Thanks to the hallucinogenic properties of extreme sleep deprivation, our dead relatives actually drop in from time to time for a visit, if only to point and laugh.

Together, Rocco and I have been pleasantly surprised by the outpouring of generous gifts from well-wishers. I'm also his Accountant and Asset Manager, heaven help the boy. That kid's getting gifts from all over the globe, from people he's never even met! There's something about a newborn that gets people all excited, compels them to go to the mall and buy teddy bears and cute little outfits. I never quite understood what it was all about until now. Babies are good; one of the few truly good things life has to offer.

Most importantly, Rocco has taught me one of the great secrets of the universe. When I wake up in the middle of the night and wonder "Why am I here? What is my purpose in life?" all I have to do it take a peek in his bassinet and go, "Oh. Yeah." It's not that my life didn't have meaning and significance before my son was born. It just that everything up till now seems like practice. I have seen the future and it wears a onesie. And when I cradle tomorrow in my arms it feels light as a feather.
 

© 2002, Rob Errera
Reprinted courtesy of TODAY Newspapers