I know it's been a few weeks since I last wrote for this space, but contrary to the conspiracy theorists out there who thought I was being censored, I have what I hope you'll accept as a valid excuse.
It all stems from something that happened to me at 1:24 p.m. on Dec. 11. It was at that moment of unrivaled exhilaration that I became a father. A beautiful girl named Ella entered the world that day, counting on me and my amazing wife, Marnie Eisenstadt, for everything.
As journalists, we strive to be objective about the subjects we're covering. But we can't escape the reality that our personal lives must shape the work we do in some way, and I'm certain being a father will do that to me.
In fact, some of my perceptions have changed already. After witnessing my wife endure labor (and 39 weeks of pregnancy), I certainly have a new level of appreciation for what all mothers go through. My respect for the work that nurses, midwives and doctors do every day has also grown substantially.
I'm not sure how or when, but I'm certain my work will be affected by those things.
It will also be affected by the daily experiences I'm going through.
Now, as anyone who has children knows, my life has been completely altered. Each day brings this mixture of joy and panic, though I'm glad to say the panic part is slowly subsiding. I'm guessing it will never go away completely, or rather will be replaced by the less-acute but nonetheless real feeling of worry.
Just about all the warnings people gave me about having a newborn are true. She cries for seemingly no reason. She's constantly needing a fresh diaper. She has made a full night's sleep a distant memory.
But as I returned to work this week, it also became apparent that Ella has given me something I've struggled to find at times during my career as a journalist - perspective.
It took a 6-pound, 8-ounce person to remind me that no matter how stressful things might get at work, no matter what kind of crazy bickering might be going on in the world of politics, no matter what criticism people have of the job I'm doing, family is more important.
Everyone's heard the saying that goes something like this - no one ever says from their deathbed that they regret not spending more time at work, but plenty of people wish they had done more with their families.
Well, it's true. I thought I knew that prior to all of this happening, but I know it much better today than ever before.
Executive editor Jeremy Boyer's column runs Saturdays in The Citizen and he can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 231 or jeremy.boyer@lee.net
As journalists, we strive to be objective about the subjects we're covering. But we can't escape the reality that our personal lives must shape the work we do in some way, and I'm certain being a father will do that to me.
In fact, some of my perceptions have changed already. After witnessing my wife endure labor (and 39 weeks of pregnancy), I certainly have a new level of appreciation for what all mothers go through. My respect for the work that nurses, midwives and doctors do every day has also grown substantially.
I'm not sure how or when, but I'm certain my work will be affected by those things.
It will also be affected by the daily experiences I'm going through.
Now, as anyone who has children knows, my life has been completely altered. Each day brings this mixture of joy and panic, though I'm glad to say the panic part is slowly subsiding. I'm guessing it will never go away completely, or rather will be replaced by the less-acute but nonetheless real feeling of worry.
Just about all the warnings people gave me about having a newborn are true. She cries for seemingly no reason. She's constantly needing a fresh diaper. She has made a full night's sleep a distant memory.
But as I returned to work this week, it also became apparent that Ella has given me something I've struggled to find at times during my career as a journalist - perspective.
It took a 6-pound, 8-ounce person to remind me that no matter how stressful things might get at work, no matter what kind of crazy bickering might be going on in the world of politics, no matter what criticism people have of the job I'm doing, family is more important.
Everyone's heard the saying that goes something like this - no one ever says from their deathbed that they regret not spending more time at work, but plenty of people wish they had done more with their families.
Well, it's true. I thought I knew that prior to all of this happening, but I know it much better today than ever before.
Executive editor Jeremy Boyer's column runs Saturdays in The Citizen and he can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 231 or jeremy.boyer@lee.net
The Citizens' Say
There are 2 comment(s)
karen wrote on Dec 27, 2006 4:50 PM:
Robin wrote on Dec 26, 2006 12:30 PM: