Greatness is simple.

(PLVN) - We often say that children exist only because of parents. But think of it differently: when a baby cries for the first time, the world gains a father and a mother.

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It's often said that parenting is an innate instinct. But is that really true? Parents raise their children, but conversely, children are also "teachers," teaching their parents many valuable lessons that one could never learn without being a parent: the strength of maternal and paternal love; patience and self-sacrifice; and placing another life at the center of one's life and nurturing that life for a lifetime.

Instinct helps us become parents, but to become true parents, we need to learn a great deal. It's a long journey, sometimes a lifetime.

I learned all of that from the day our child was born. People often lump the roles of both parents together with one word, "parenting." But in reality, father and mother are two yet one, one yet two; each, from the moment their child is born, must begin learning their own lessons, starting a new journey for themselves.

From my perspective, I watched my husband begin his journey as a father. It was when I opened my eyes in the operating room after a coma, seeing that man holding a tiny baby in his arms, handing it to me with a smile glistening with tears.

From that moment on, the days were happy – despite the hardship. The first person to change the baby's diaper wasn't me, but my husband. He was also the first to bathe the baby, and when I was in pain from the infected incision, my husband was the one who meticulously cared for the baby. The baby had jaundice after birth but absolutely refused to lie face down for phototherapy. The father held the baby face down on his stomach so the light shone on both of them, lying still for hours without moving for fear of waking the baby.

He is also the one who patiently holds and soothes the baby for hours when it cries incessantly, his face contorting when he sees the baby in pain from colic, the one who can spend hours researching which diapers are most comfortable for the baby, learning all about raising a child, how to care for and hold them... in order to ensure the best possible development. A father who is ready to become a mother hen, ruffling his feathers when he feels his child might be in danger...

Sometimes, while observing that father, I was utterly surprised; so this is what being a father is like. And I remembered my own father. My childhood memories are so vague; I only heard my mother recount that back then, she was teaching, and my father ran a private clinic. Every time he went to work, he would carry me on his back, taking care of me while examining patients. When I was just learning to walk, my father would sit in the clinic, and I would sit in a walker with a strap tied to the other end of the chair he was sitting in. Every now and then, he would pull me closer and stroke my head.

Once, an artist came to visit and took a picture of me that my father really liked. He quickly took the film to the photo shop to develop it, but because the photo developer carelessly criticized the child for not being pretty enough, my father flew into a rage and scolded her, because to him, his daughter was the most beautiful child in the world.

That photograph was then hung in the center of the living room, accompanied by two lines of poetry that my father had commissioned a poet to write specifically for me. Even when I grew up, before the house was rebuilt, the photograph remained in the same spot. Perhaps because it was so familiar, I never bothered to think about it. But later, as I grew older, and especially after having children, I realized how fortunate I was to have been surrounded by my father's love – a love so immense.

People often talk a lot about motherly love and the immense sacrifices mothers make. Mothers endure many hardships and sacrifices, carrying a child through pregnancy and giving birth. But the father's contributions are no less significant and incomparable. A father is not just an invisible "pillar," but a nurturer of emotions, supporting his child with a gentle heart. He is like a shade tree for his child's life, paving a wide path for them, shielding them from rain and wind. With a mother, a child lives in comforting love. With a father, a child can be completely themselves.

...Since having a child, my husband has been more concerned about his health. He's given up most of his previous hobbies: hanging out with friends, backpacking ... Before, he lived for himself, but now, our child is the first thing he thinks about when doing anything. For our child, he's thinking about leaving the city to live in a green suburb. There, he'll create a fairytale garden for her. He'll grow lots of clean, healthy vegetables and fruits for her to eat, plant flowers for her to admire, teach her to swim and climb, teach her to be a "little farmer," and play with dogs, cats, and rabbits. She'll be a happy child surrounded by her parents' love and deeply connected to nature. The journey of fatherhood has only just begun, but I believe my daughter's father will give her the best he has to offer, creating a solid spiritual foundation for her life…

Since having children, I have come to understand not only the hardships and sacrifices of mothers, but also the nobility of fatherhood. We often glorify "heroes" in many areas of life, but we often forget the quiet "hero" who is always by our side—our father.

I suddenly thought that every man who comes into this world may not need to build a great career or leave a profound mark on life, but first and foremost, he just needs to be a good father, build a home full of love, so that his child can grow up in warm embrace.

That's great enough.

Ngoc Mai

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/dieu-vi-dai-gian-don-post551699.html