Daddy’s on the phone, right now.

There are a lot of things about parenthood that you don’t necessarily understand until you are there. People try to tell you (well, warn you, really) how things will never be the same. You know you are on the road to parenthood when everyone, including people you don’t know, warn you about how much sleep you won’t be getting. But those little tidbits are pretty obvious. I mean, we knew things weren’t going to be the same. It’s pretty much WHY we wanted to be parents. We’re quite fond of our newfound non-sameness.

As far as the lack of sleep goes, it really was tough at first. But, like anything worthwhile, you learn to adapt. Except for my most recent groggy non-diaper change, I don’t find it so horrible. I can’t speak for Heather, of course, but everything I do is worth it whenever I pick Finley up from her bed. I love the way she lays her head on my shoulder as I carry her to the changing table. I love how she holds on to our shoulders and sometimes even lifts her head up to see what’s happening in this great big world. But it’s that full-on body hug that’s the best. I know she’s tired and just clinging, but I feel like the world’s best teddy bear when she does that.

Another part of parenthood that is a “you have to be there” kind of thing is the difference between friends with kids and friends without. Way back in the old days when I was single, I used to HATE it whenever I was talking to a buddy and in mid-sentence he would start having a conversation with his kid. There’s the inevitable, “Daddy’s on the phone, right now,” that comes through the line, but we all know the kid knows that. If daddy wasn’t on the phone, junior would probably not be bugging daddy. It would drive me crazy.

Of course, I understood that the kid is the center of the universe… I just didn’t think it counted when I was on the phone talking to the daddy. But, as I said, things change when it’s your turn. Not that Finley is suddenly talking while I’m on the phone, but there are instances where whatever I’m doing or working on has to take a back seat to the little one who is discovering the intricacies of her larynx.

I know that these little yelps and shouts will eventually become tiny little words that will one day resemble the sound of “daddy!” And how many incarnations of “daddy” will there be? There will be the one that she’ll yell when she skins a knee. And the one that she’ll yell when she needs a glass of water at 2:00 am. Then there’s the one she’ll yell when I do something dorky or embarrassing (that one will happen a lot, I bet). But the one I can’t wait for is when that little voice calls to me as I walk in the door from work. It’s the one that says “I love you. I missed you. Welcome home.” That’s the “daddy” that matters most. And I’m not answering the phone for anything, then.

So, I apologize in advance to any of my friends and family out there to whom I interrupt what is sure to be a most interesting conversation with “Daddy’s on the phone, right now.” Don’t take it personally. It’s just a little voice I’ve been waiting to hear her entire life. Besides, if I can train her to bug me when the telemarketers call, it will all be worthwhile.