What is parenting

I am experiencing happiness like I’ve never even imagined possible, and it is of a completely different variety. Life is no longer an aimless wandering in search for joy, it is no longer a string of colorful moments held together by memory, but a volcano of life energy that bursts and lights everything around. Even the most seemingly meaningless little things are now fulfilling, because of my daughter. I found that parenting is the ultimate process of self-realization. But this cannot be understood theoretically, it can only be experienced while tuning in, while remaining thoughtful and conscious through every step in the process of the development of a brand new human being, the one that is formed by the cooperation of Nature and I.

It is the process not unlike a mountain climb. First you walk through the woods, and the path is not clear, and you can't even see the summit ahead, and it feels emotionally exhausting and confusing, and your back is not accustomed to the pack yet, but your legs are fresh and you are hopeful about the future. Then trees being to clear and the summit shines way up high. You don't exactly know what it would take to get there, but you are starting to form a plan in your head, based on the materials available, the conditions, and what you see in front of you. And then, you start to ascend. Some sections are just slow and steady rises that take perseverance and patience, some are fun and challenging rocks that take ingenuity and strength. Sometimes you have to adjust to the circumstances, at a moment's notice, taking your own experienced and the experiences of the ones that came before you into consideration. Some sections you walk slow and steady, eyes fixed on the ground one step ahead. Sometimes you look around and take in the breathtaking views and realize that there is nothing on Earth that you would rather do right now. Sometimes you make mistakes, you backtrack and try again. But always, the summit is ahead, and deeply in your heart.