Parenthood comes with a duty. A responsibility. A requirement. When you become a parent, you’re signing up to be on point, even when you’re not ready.
I wasn’t. When Anabelle was born, I was 26, heavier, and nowhere near “prepared.” But who ever really is? The years since have been the biggest journey of self-improvement I’ve ever been on. Every challenge forces you into failures, corrections, and small wins.
A Duty I Can’t Avoid
I have a duty to be on point and be a great parent. It’s your responsibility when you become one. Excelling in this role contains many failures and self-corrections as each challenge passes, like everything in else in life.
2016 vs 2021 – progress in health, weight, and mindset.
Parenting & Work — Equal Pillars
One thing I’ve always aimed for: work as hard at being a parent as I do in my career. They’re both pillars of life, and both need to be kept solid. I never want to look back at old photos thinking I could have done more.
Life is a Rollercoaster
It’s not easy. Being a working parent often feels like waiting on a bus that’s never coming. But the rewards build up quietly over years. Every seed you plant, every bit of time, attention, and teaching – can turn into an unexpected conversation years later. That’s the good stuff.
You learn to normalise the heavy days. You learn to self-correct, drop bad habits, and become more aware. And you learn to enjoy the ride. Adventures matter too, not just for me, but for my daughter, so she grows up seeing that life’s not only about work.
I don’t usually write this kind of thing — most of my blog is tech or outdoor content. But every so often it’s worth pausing, looking at how far you’ve come, and appreciating what’s around you.
Parenthood is responsibility. It’s a duty. But most importantly, it’s a long, unpredictable adventure.
– Pete
Update 2025: Reading this back a few years later, I can see how much has shifted. Anabelle’s starting high school next year, I’m a senior engineer now, and life feels just as full-on — but in a good way. The core message hasn’t changed: career, parenting, and adventure still need to be equal pillars.
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