Fatherhood - What I've learnt so far

I'm a dad now.

Just like that - my wife Nardia grew a little human and now we have a baby and I'm a father.

Our daughter - Kaia Rey Norman Campbell - was born on June 20th this year, 2020. There were a bunch of extra challenges in the lead up with COVID, and most definitely now with borders still being shut. I speak to that part a touch in this - not being able to see or access our families in New Zealand - but the challenges prior to this I haven't covered.

Anyway, I'm a dad now. So I decided to reflect on the experience so far - three months in - and some of the lessons and challenges I've noticed and taken on.

This podcast is that.

 

Show notes:

On this episode, I venture into more of a personal story than previous when I tell the story of becoming a father. From before Nardia became pregnant, to finding out after already believing I would never be a dad, and through all the lessons, challenges and projected expectations from others all the way up to bubs being three months old.

In here I explore the importance of community, or lack thereof in our case, and both the reflections I've been making around this and the yearning I've been feeling for "The Village", as it were. 

I dive into a seemingly normal yet surprisingly odd question to receive: What kind of dad do you want to be?"

This takes me into a Cherokee Proverb that I'll drop here for reference - something that has had a deep meaning to me in my relationship with my wife Nardia, and now a new meaning in relation to my daughter:

"A woman's highest calling is to lead a man to his soul, so as to unite him with Source. Her lowest calling is to seduce, separating man from his soul and leave him aimlessly wandering. A man's highest calling is to protect woman, so she is free to walk the earth unharmed. Man's lowest calling is to ambush and force his way into the life of a woman."

And I also explore some of the biggest and weirdest challenges I'm experiencing.

What I only touch on but will express here so it's bloody obvious - I am in love with Kaia and seeing her gorgeous little face. In fact, I may say to her "LOOK AT YOUR LITTLE FACE!" about 20 times a day!

As always, send me your feedback. Hit Apple podcasts and leave me a review - this will do me a HUGE favour in getting the podcast in front of more men - my thanks and gratitude in advance.

 

For those wanting to see the Monty Python skit and song I refer to:

Other links:

• Alchemy of Initiation by Francis Weller: https://www.francisweller.net/the-alchemy-of-initiation-a-five-week-series.html
• Monty Python Sketch - Every Sperm is Sacred: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUspLVStPbk

The pregnancy announcement image, as promised:

 

Other ways to consume this podcast:

• On Apple
• On Spotify
• On YouTube
• Read transcript

 

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