Ben Sloot

My wife (MY WIFE!) thrust a new life in to the world this week and I became a dad twice over.

Our newest daughter Sadie came home 36 hours after birth. The first time around my wife and I needed to be dragged away from the experts and extra helping hands at the hospital. This time we kept our bags packed and couldn’t wait to get to our own bed.

Since we’ve been home life feels different for our (now) eldest Charlie and me. We are on our own for boiling hot dogs, picking out clothes, and sharing control of the Spotify playlist. Even a two year old noticed our unearned independence. I’m not smart enough to explain how much her new sister’s health depends on a near constant presence of the matron of the house. Like hers did once.

I’ve been cooking up ideas to distract Charlie from my wife’s literal attachment (hooray successful latch) to the new girl on the block.

Most of my efforts have been in vain. She kept looking for mama in the window while we took our swim lesson this morning. Every car ride is a car ride with a destination, mama. She asked about mama during our bike ride in her new rear seat.

Then tonight after I gave her a bath an walked her alone to bed, she joined me while I sang my homegrown lullaby. She can’t say most of the words yet, but the tune came out clear as a bell.

Her and I are going to be just fine.