The Real Blessing of Fatherhood

What's your favorite thing about being a father?

I got that question a few times around Father's Day.

If I'm honest, my first thoughts were not sentimental.

I thought about interrupted sleep, tantrums, getting my kids to eat their food, and stopping them from bouncing on the couch.

So I smiled and said, "It's a blessing." Which is true. But not the full answer.

The more I've thought about it, the more I've realized fatherhood has taught me to dream again.

Growing up in Nigeria, we didn't have a TV for most of my childhood.

Radio was our entertainment.

My hero was DJ Sidney Shocker.

For years, I dreamed of becoming a DJ because I loved stories, music, and connecting with people.

Life took me toward Microsoft Excel instead :)

But fatherhood has reminded me what it feels like to see the world as wide open again.

As adults, we become practical especially when you have family who are relying on you. We settle into who we think we are.

Kids are the opposite. Everything is still on the table.

Will they love soccer or singing? Will a road trip unlock something new?

I'm experiencing things with fresh eyes because they're experiencing them for the first time.

I don't just get to watch them discover the world.

I get to rediscover it too.

I never became a DJ, but I still found my way to telling stories through my podcast.

Maybe the dream did not disappear. Maybe it just evolved.

That may be the real blessing of fatherhood.

A chance to imagine again, to be curious again.

To dream again.