Holy Cow! We're having a Baby!

We had an ultrasound the other day. WOW! Makes me smile just thinking about it. Seeing that perfectly formed little person moving around in there is pretty awesome. We could see his/her brain, his/her heart beating, even the four chambers of the heart! It's too early to tell whether we're having a girl or a boy, but the professionals could pick out other internal organs even though  Little Person Henry  is only about 4 inches long. Amazing!

My wife and I are expecting our first child. Those of you who have already experienced this probably remember the emotions: fear, uncertainty, anticipation,and excitement, that all first-time parents experience. Now its our turn. We are having so much fun thinking about how we'll raise our child, looking for the perfect name, wondering if it's gonna be a girl or a boy, debating parenting strategies, planning the future (Yeah, we know that's kinda silly but we can't help it.). We spend lots of time talking about what life will be like when the little one arrives. We're 16 weeks in and it's starting to sink in I think.

Honestly, thinking about being a dad is pretty scary. There's a person who's going to be counting on me to protect them, provide for their needs, teach them how to live life. On the other hand, I'm really looking forward to the challenge of being a father to the tiny person who is joining our family. What a privilege it is to guide a youngster on their journey to adulthood. I hope I never lose the sense of wonder and responsibility I feel right now.

I wonder what the experienced parents in our lives would say to us. I would love to know more about what they experienced as they anticipated their first child. I suppose its an odyssey everyone has to take on their own, but it seems like it would be so enriching to hear other people talk about what it was like for them to make the transition from being just two to three or more.

This experience is so deeply moving that sharing it with others will help us connect with people in a powerful way. Sharing these life moments involves a level of vulnerability that can build a bridge between people that would otherwise have very little in common. I wonder how it would change our world if we would take the risk of opening up to others our hopes and fears connected to this and other life changing events in our lives.

What would you say about your passage from couple to parents?  Feel free to leave a comment, brief or lengthy, in the comments below.

Afraid of Fear?

Our Illustrious President, Franklin D. Roosevelt famously said "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." I doubt this is the first time you have encountered this maxim. You may not have known its origin but I would be surprised if any American reached adulthood without hearing or reading this proverb may times. But is it true? Should we fear FEAR? Isn't fear good sometimes? Can't you use fear for motivation? Have you ever heard someone say they have a "healthy" fear of something?

Fear can definitely be a bad thing.  It can make you do the wrong thing or cause you to fail to do the right thing. Hit and Run accidents are caused by fear. If there is no fear there is no "run". Bullying works because of fear. Fear is a key ingredient of various other forms of manipulation. Fear is BAD!

Sometimes fear is good. It keeps people from all manner of stupid behaviors. It keeps most of us from cliff diving, base jumping, even skydiving. It is what makes roller coasters and horror films fun. So why is fear something we should fear?

Maybe we should just eye it warily...... Don't let fear stop you from trying something new. Don't let fear stop you from fighting for what is right. Don't let fear stop you from reaching out to people who may take advantage of you. Do let it keep you from doing something you are not ready for. Let it push you to adequate preparation. Enjoy the excitement and exhilaration that comes from facing fear head-on. Be the hero. Wear the badge of courage.