“Some day you will know that a father is much happier in his children’s happiness than in his own.” –Honore de Balzac, Pere Goriot
I need little for myself. But for my kids I drive myself, to give them the environment and opportunity to thrive and grow into the best version of themselves they can.
I was cool with a postage stamp backyard but bought the house with the huge yard so they could run around and be kids and still be semi-supervised and safe. Mowing the lawn and caretaking the trees and snowblowing the driveway were for them, and hearing them screech with joy as they ran around was worth it.
Running them around to their activities is a pain but hearing them laugh and seeing their excitement when they succeed at something difficult, watching them grow into young leaders with good hearts because of the lessons learned in martial arts or music or whatever today’s three activities are is worth it.
Love is deferring your happiness for the happiness of another. Fatherhood is the greatest experiment and training course of love there is.