How having a little girl has changed me

I didn't expect having a little girl would change my view of the "big girls" but I was wrong. Holding Ali's little body in my arms after a bath and seeing women with no respect for themselves it really puts reality into perspective: these women were once the treasured little girl of a dad like Ali is to me now. I know it sounds really cheesy, but having a little girl has made me look at other women in a different light.

Ali has also really softened me as a person; I can tell that I'm much more patient now. She has a way of breaking my selfish spirit, hearing her seemingly endless cries of pain would take my nerves to the breaking point and I could feel my anger start to creep up, even though it wasn't her fault that she was ruining my night's sleep. I slowly began to have a change of heart; and while I'm nowhere near being a completely understanding man I have much, much more sympathy for her which has given me more patience outside of fatherhood. I was (and still am, if I'm honest with myself) a pretty selfish guy so to have this little butterball interfere with my sleep schedule and my "mommy-daddy" time would infuriate me, but now I can tell that I'm becoming a teensy bit more selfless. It's a process...

Having a little baby (especially an uber cute one) really draws the crowds; and with them the endless barrage of opinions on parenting! I have had to learn to firmly say "No" when people push (and push and push) for me to do parenting their way. It's made me a stronger man and forced me to learn how to deal with potential conflicts in a much more diplomatic manner. An added benefit: Kathy finds me standing up for my family and our beliefs is hot. ;)