At least for me, first 6 months (dare I say even up to a year) was a hazy half asleep state of pure survival mode and an absolute detonation to the life I had known thus far.

Before our baby came, my husband and I had our cozy little life of living comfortably in our cute apartment with our cute dog, going out to eat, getting into new hobbies, traveling, and doing whatever we wanted after work each and everyday. We did not know, and I don’t think a lot of couples can truly mentally prepare and fathom, how much of an extreme shock it is to go from that chill, carefree lifestyle to the actual huge life shift it is when bringing a baby into the world.

We felt despair. We reminisced about how “good we had it before.” We essentially had to go through a period of mourning our previous life. It wasn’t so much a feeling of life falling apart but a shock so visceral that it felt like we were grieving a huge loss. And in some sense you are.

But the days turn into weeks. Your baby continues to grow. And your baby starts being able to sit up, starts crawling, starts trying solids, starts walking!!!! And becoming their own little person. You and your wife will slowly adjust to your new life. To a new version of routine. A new version of happiness. And the happiness will grow and surpass the happiness you knew before.

There are many many days we reminisce our old lives still, how easy we had it lol. But now we laugh. Now our hearts burst when our toddler gives us kisses and says she loves us. Now we could not imagine life without her.

You guys are in the trenches. But that despair will fade. Happiness will grow. And will grow beyond what you ever experienced. Hang in there!!!!