A friend at work became a parent this week.
Or rather, the baby was born this week.
I guess they became a parent as soon as the baby was conceived.
I was thinking about the advice I would give to new parents…
Pay attention! Your little person is only a little person for a short time.
It seems to drag on in the moment, but the speed that their childhood passes by you will be astounding.
You are a steward for this new person. They aren’t a little you. They are their own person.
And they will smash what ever preconceived notions you have.
I recommend listening to Cats in the Cradle by Harry Chapin. Often. As a cautionary tale.
And read Kahlil Gibran’s poem On Children from his book The Prophet. Read it regularly.
On Children
Kahlil Gibran
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.
Remember that quality time is better than quantity of time. When you’re present with your kids, be present.
peter gruner 