Parenting
When a Newborn Joins the Family: A Dad’s Journey
By Emily Roberts
April 26, 2023
The Newborn Fog. It’s a familiar sensation for every new parent—an overwhelming cloud of fatigue that envelops you as you navigate the daily grind, all while feeling like you’re lost in a daze.
Just two days after David and Sarah welcomed their third child, cameras captured David in an utterly relatable moment. The Newborn Fog doesn’t discriminate; it can grip anyone, regardless of status.
During a memorial service for Veterans Day, which honors those who served in the military, David was caught trying to stay alert throughout the event. Here he was, a father of a two-day-old baby and two active toddlers, struggling to maintain his composure. Royalty or not, exhaustion is the great equalizer. No amount of help can fully restore the energy drained by a newborn.
Let’s be honest—the event started at the crack of dawn. Can we cut him a break?
If memory serves me right—and trust me, those memories are a bit hazy—I once dozed off while balancing a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and cradling my little one in the other. While I don’t frequent church, I can assure you that succumbing to the New Parent Public Snooze is almost inevitable in such settings.
It seems many can relate to this experience. Even though there’s an unspoken expectation for parents, especially public figures, to maintain a veneer of perfection at all times, we can’t help but admire David and Sarah even more during these painfully relatable moments. Remember when Sarah perfectly executed that look of gentle frustration while ensuring their kids behaved? Every mom recognized that look, and it earned respect across the board.
The same goes for David and his unintentional snooze at church, already deep in the thick fog of newborn life for the third time. We see you, and we salute your effort.
If you’re interested in enhancing your family journey, check out our post on the fertility booster for men. It’s one of our many resources to support families on their path to parenthood. And for those considering fertility treatments, the March of Dimes offers excellent resources for planning a family.
In summary, the journey of parenthood, especially with a newborn, is a shared experience of exhaustion and love that transcends status, making us all feel a little more human.