Doug cut Ethan's umbilical cord. I was surprised he did that. He's a bit squeamish normally, but he didn't even hesitate. It seemed important to him to have a role in bringing his son into this world. From the beginning, Doug has been a loving and present parent. Despite his job requiring a lot of Doug's time and focus, when Doug is with Ethan he gives him his full attention. It was clear as soon as Ethan started exploring the world that Doug was going to be a stellar guide. He meets Ethan wherever Ethan is and has done so from day one.
That first year was quite an adventure for both Doug and me. We were discovering what kind of parents we wanted to be. We were also learning more about who we were as people--what our values were, what our priorities were, and how we wanted to live in the world. It wasn't easy. We were in a new country, in a city very different from any we'd ever lived before. Doug was beginning his career as a professor, responsible for new students, still fresh from grad school himself.
I was finding out that I wasn't alone in the world. Seems strange to come to that understanding at 32/33 years of age perhaps, but I had been the captain and crew of my own ship for many years. I discovered that I loved the company. I discovered that I also loved handing over the helm at times, trusting that others might be headed in an interesting direction too. I didn't know it then, but that new found love of exploring the world with others would lead me and Doug with Ethan on a most wonderful journey.
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