.....it is all worth it.....

So, we were having a Friday drinks tonight to celebrate 'the last' of my colleague's freedom (from drinking that's it) as his wife is due soon. He loves beer with a passion this English dude. And to him, giving up beer like is one of the ultimate sacrifices that he is willing to do, albeit reluctantly for the newborn. 

And some of the experienced dads around the office started 'advising' him that it is not the last thing that he would give up....

'Sleep is the first thing that you would sacrifice, mate'

'After 2 weeks, you would actually be happy to come back to the office'

'Quick, buy whatever gadgets that you want before the baby is born'

'All time will be spend talking about where to get the cheapest nappies instead of soccer'

And then it really hits me - a baby is a really big responsibility. Especially in Australia where childcare is so expensive and things are hard because most of the new parents are both working migrants that usually do not have family support to help take care of the newborn. Not many couples can go on a single income with different sort of commitments (think car loan, home loan and increasing living expenses). 

Not to mention about the worry of the child's upbringing, education and also the feeling of just wanting to give the best to your child in spite of the current state of affairs in the world today (think child abduction, rape, murder, etc.). 

But at the end of the day, guess what.... - every parent came up with the same concluding line:

'It is all worth it'

.... perhaps?