The joy of fatherhood
Sometimes the phrase “Oh the joys of fatherhood” is used facetiously. When it comes to my 17-month daughter Aniah though, I truly find never-ending joy in being her father.
The first time I became a father was in 1995 when my son Tyler was born. I was 25. In stark contrast, when Aniah was born in 2020, I was 51. You could say I was a bit rusty with the whole baby/toddler thing.
Although I am raising Amanda’s boys from her previous marriage (they were 2 and 4 when we got together), I missed out on their beginning years and all the neat changes they go through so quickly. Today, they are 15 and 13.
I have always wanted a girl, having been raising all boys. There is the age-old debate on which are easier to raise, but to me gender does not matter. I am just grateful Creator has blessed me to be the caretaker, nurturer, protector, teacher, and guide to our daughter.
Enough of the philosophical stuff.
So, my wife named our daughter Aniah. Her name is in memory of our premature sons that Creator called home shortly after they were born, Antonio and Josiah.
Over time, I have watched her facial features show more of her mother’s looks, and at times, those of myself. When I tell my mother she looks like me or Amanda, she smiles and says, “She looks like Aniah”. Mothers always have that special way of grounding their children, no matter their age.
I love my daughter. She is cute, sassy, serious, loving, inquisitive and smart.
Becoming a father again at this age, definitely is a bit different. I imagine how I treat Aniah could be likened to how a grandfather treats their grandchild. It could be that I am different and have more experiences under my belt now than at 25. I seem to be more patient and enjoy her mannerisms that are unique to her. I enjoy watching some of her actions that could be considered mundane.
As with most toddlers, Aniah has her daily routine. The start of her day is what I call daddy-daughter time. I get up rather early every day at 5-6 am. I have some quiet time until Amanda let’s me know Aniah is awake. When I greet her in bed, she greets me with a smile and excitement brighter than 1000 suns. I melt every time.
We walk to the windows to see what the birds and squirrels are doing, and then gaze out across the lake we live on. Eventually, we retreat to a comfy living room chair to snuggle and watch Baby Einstein reruns while she enjoys some sort of snack. All the while, I think about the good life I pray for her to have.
I look forward to the summer and her first experiences that she may have down by the lake. Oh the things I will teach her about the sacred water and how she too will be a steward of the lake and all of Creator’s world. Amanda is looking forward to teaching Aniah the finer points of catching fish with a kiddie pole that belonged to my late niece Jessica.
I could go on and on about our Aniah Princess. I think you get the picture though.
At my young age, Aniah reminds me of the simple and important things in life; Greet the day with a smile whether it is sunny or cloudy out. Connect with those that are close by, satisfy your hunger, get dressed for the day, play and explore, take a nap (because naps are always good), play some more, eat some more, and end your day with a smile and some warm milk.
Enjoy a few photos of Aniah and scroll down to watch her first six months video.
