There comes a point, when your child is no longer an evil demon

There’s a reason babies come out all cute and cuddly. At first they sleep a lot, fuss very quietly and tend to resemble their dads in one aspect or another. It’s clear to me why this is. It’s in the design of nature for infants to come into this world as perfect little bundles of joy, because if they didn’t, if they came out with the personality that they have at 2 months, then fathers would cast them off cliffs 300 style.

But for those of you “newbie” dads (my son is 6 months so that makes me a seasoned veteran…..clearly) I’m here to tell you that there is a point when it changes. Things can shift on a dime, so take a breath, step back off the ledge and listen to my story.

My son is no longer an evil demon. There……… I said it.

Something inside him has changed. Maybe it was the introduction of cereal to his diet. Maybe it was the sleep training. Maybe it was my attempts to spend more time with him. I don’t know what it was but I am thankful.

Meet Tristan 2.0 –  less crying more naps. He flirts with girls, smiles at everyone, laughs when I play with him, and sleeps soundly through the night. This is a complete 180 from the spring and early summer months.

I went from being afraid to leave the house with him to wanting to take him everywhere. I went from not wanting to talk about him to showing strangers pictures on my phone. I went from rolling my eyes when I had to take him, to wanting to grab him as soon as I walk through the door.

I suppose it’s a natural shift for me to come around and begin to love this little guy, who smiles at me and laughs when I play with him. Much like it’s natural for him to be a happy baby, and not the two-headed dragon that I had been led to believe.

So for those of you with newborns who wonder if you will ever sleep again. For those of you who wonder if your life is over and if all your hopes and dreams are ruined. I want to tell you that your war will soon be over. It gets better, and it’s great when it does.

Pat Lemieux

About Pat Lemieux

Pat has it all, family, big old house, dogs, a young son and a quarter-life crisis. He blogs about trying to be who he has always been and be who he now needs to be. He enjoys 90's grunge metal, tasty local brews and the outdoors.