Feeling a Little Bit Like an Expectant Father

With the publication of my new book, “Dear Ashley . . .” – A Father’s Reflections and Letters to His Daughter on Life, Love and Hope just around the corner, I can’t help but feel many of the same emotions that I remember experiencing as I anticipated the birth of our children   I’m not suggesting for a moment that the two events are of comparable significance, clearly they’re not.  But there are some rather obvious parallels (and stark distinctions) between the two experiences.  First and foremost, there is the overwhelming sense of anticipation.  In the case of Greg and Ashley (my son and daughter), it was the anticipation associated with meeting them for the first time and wondering what they would be like.  In the case of the book, which I’ve been “living with” for the past three years (and already know quite intimately), the anticipation is tied to wondering how it will be received by others.  In a metaphorical sense, I’m the “the guy coming out of the birthing canal” this time around (at age 53 no less!) and I have to tell you it’s considerably more frightening to be “that guy” than the guy on the receiving end!  There also is a tremendous amount of anxiety surrounding the “birth” of my book – not that unlike the stress that accompanies the birth of a child.  In the case of the expectant father, however, the anxiety mostly emanates from an all-consuming sense of responsibility for the life of another and an almost instantaneous recognition of your inadequacy to assume that role.  For the expectant author, at least this author on the eve of birthing this book, the stress is tied to being vulnerable, to laying yourself bare, to sharing from the heart and being uncertain how “you” will be received.  Hmm . . . I wonder if Greg and Ashley felt that same sense of stress as they were entering the world for the first time.  I suspect they did.  An interesting thought to end on for today.