007 My Lessons from New Fatherhood

<h1><strong>Fatherhood - What I've learnt so far</strong></h1> <p><img class=" wp-image-5512 alignleft" src= "http://mikecampbell.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_4736-300x225.jpeg" alt="Mike and Kaia Campbell" width="321" height="241" />I'm a dad now.</p> <p>Just like that - my wife Nardia grew a little human and now we have a baby and I'm a father.</p> <p>Our daughter - <em>Kaia Rey Norman Campbell</em> - 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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>This podcast is that.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Show notes:</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400">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.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400">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. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400">I dive into a seemingly normal yet surprisingly odd question to receive:</span> <i><span style= "font-weight: 400">What kind of dad do you want to be?”</span></i></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400">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:</span>