Babies Initiate Change

Standing beside my wife’s bed, trying to help her breathe, through the birth of our child was an unforgettable event. At one point I think I had to control my breathing more than my wife had to as the anticipation grew with the thought of our baby conceiving at any moment. There are a lot of events that have occurred in my life that have come and gone. Although many of the events in my life have gained me a great deal of experience in life, none of these events have changed me into a different person than I was before. For example, being deployed to Iraq for a year was a tremendous experience that taught me a lot about cherishing the obsolete things I have in life. Even getting married didn’t change my lifestyle, as I continued along the same path and did the same things like I did beforehand. There’s only one incident that has taken place in my life that has initiated a change and that was the birth of my first child. Therefore, I believe that nothing in life will change a man the way that bringing a child into his life will.

Caring for a child takes a lot of money and time. Before having my first child, I would go out to the bar four to five nights out of the week. I would spend quite a bit of money and come home at whatever time of the night I felt was convenient. Now with a little baby at the house, I have a commitment that enters my mind before any other action I take. Although I still get to make the occasional night out, I always try to make it home before my baby falls asleep. Even when I work late I try to get home before she closes her eyes at night to tell my precious little angel good night. Giving her assurance and security that her father is right beside her before she falls into her sweet dreams grants me with a feeling of gratitude.

A lot of time has passed since my wife and I have been together. We had planned to have a baby the whole time we have been together. However, we were waiting until a time we were financially ready. Unfortunately, we weren’t financially ready, but may have never been financially ready. Prior to the birth, I never saved money and would spend money wherever and on whatever I wanted at that instant, usually on myself. Now I actually use my savings account and am very tight on the money I bring in. I spend more money on my baby than I could have ever imagined. Sure the monthly necessities add up when accounting for food, diapers, and everything else that accounts for the needs of a baby. But in addition are the events and holidays when you spend a good chunk of change on someone you rather would than yourself. Instead of going out and buying a rifle or a motorcycle, I use money saved up for other occasions like a big Christmas or birthday. The reward achieved from seeing the happiness in my baby’s faces and actions are totally worth the cost to put it there.

Life’s experiences teach us a lot from the good to the bad. Even though events such as deployments and marriage have a major impact on my life, no event has changed me as a person like the birth of my daughter. I believe that having a baby changes a man to where he actually cares about someone more than he cares about himself. Therefore, the only event that can guarantee a change in a man is the birth of a baby.