Parenthood impacts our lives in indescribable ways and with Father’s Day upon us, we thought who better to share their experiences with us than a dad himself? In this column, Chris Au shares with us how having children has changed his life.
By Chris Au
Hitting the half century mark this year allows me to reflect on being an older first time father. I spent the first 50 years of my life focused on selfish pursuits. The arrival of a young family certainly puts an end to any further hedonistic inclinations. No more sleeping late on lazy Saturdays or obligation free weekends. The two-seater convertible was traded in for a seven-seater family friendly transporter. Play dates no longer carry the same meaning and are replaced with family days.
Fatherhood evolved me. Like the head of a pride I always stayed close to protect and watch over my young clan. Overnight business trips became day trips. Gathering with friends became distant occurrences. Instead my days were filled with smiles and giggles from the younglings. Her scent more intoxicating than any sultry fragrance. Life has blessed me with what I never dreamt I could have.
To put it in better words, I adapted one of my favourite songs from Les Miserables to reflect what fatherhood means to me. This, I dedicate to my children who made me a better man, a better human… … a father.
There was a time when I was free
When my whispers were heard
And well received
There was a time when the pleasures were boundless
And the world was my playground
And the travels were exhilarating
There was a time
Then it all went wrong
I dreamed of wild abandon days long gone by
When the skin was tight
And age not a matter
I dreamed that the beats would never stop
And the walls would have no ears
Then I was sudden and dauntless
And desires were yearned and rewarded
There was no prize out of reach
No laughter wasted
No bottles un-opened
But fatherhood arose in the distance
With their soft cries as sweet as choir
As they shatter your flawless being
As they transform your singular into countless
She sleeps nightly by my side
She enrich our lives with ceaseless wonder
My duty is to raise her thru her childhood
Guide her journey thru the woods
Now my dreams have altered to a new inevitability
That we will nurture as a family together
Now I dream of melodies of baby happenings
For this child will want for nothing
I had a dream my life would be
So different from the rewards I’m living
So different now from what I had gleaned
Now life has blessed me with what I never dreamed
