Ankit Saxena

Time just flew and while I was aware that this was always going to happen and was even reminded on a continual basis by family and friends before I knew the girl who was smaller than my hand grew up to my waist and is three years old.Over the last three years, the father-daughter bond has deepened in a weird manner where she has started mocking me by making fun of the things I say to her, and each of my warnings against unwanted behavior is used as explicit permission to act that way. I also have some qualms against our society in general for not being explicit enough when they talk about "Terrible 2s and 3s" - The terrible part completely applies to the parents, and the kid is having the time of his/her life As a family, we have not only become more aware of each others presence, needs and nuances but somewhere along the line have also become more accepting of the same. Prisha's favorite time of the day is 'family time' where she would make all of us sit together sharing juice box or have a meal together. She has also grown to be very diplomatic where she would claim to love one of us more than the other or the same based on the situation at hand. We still have our challenges when we try to pretend like strangers to her in shopping malls as she throws a tantrum on not getting what she wants or when we have to run like a tiger is chasing us to catch her as she sprints towards a candy shop, small baby, cute dogs, mischievous squirrels, and the list goes on. Looking back and reading the preface of the first two books the future does not look as gloomy anymore and we would not trade the last three-plus years for anything in the world. Having a kid is magical but raising one is a reality check that each of us should face as we emerge stronger individuals, responsible couple and evolving parents. We continue to click crazy amount of pictures of Prisha's adventures and doesn't look like that will ever stop and often steal a few quiet moments looking at the journey behind as we brace ourselves for the journey ahead. When I started monthly letters to the family, I promised myself to write until Prisha can speak for herself and from that measure I should have completely halted halfway through this book I hope that anyone who has read any of these books has smiled, giggled and cherished there own journey while some were terrified of having children.Giving birth, raising and grooming a child to be a member of our complicated society is probably the hardest thing in the world and each day is a struggle. At the same time watching your child run towards you and hold you like you are the most precious being in the world is more than worth the journey, and in many ways, it gives meaning and purpose to life as well.

Post publishing my first book - 'Close Encounters of the First Kind' I felt a unique sense of accomplishment. Did my book go on to become a New York bestseller? Absolutely Not. Did I sell a million copies - I wish I was still surprised at the number of copies sold and would have never guessed such high reader interest levels. Regardless I was happy infact I was joyous. Why? Simply because this book was a way to permanently scribe my experiences with Prisha and I am waiting for the day when she gets to read about her adventures and how me and her mom not only got on for the ride we went all in After Prisha turned a year old, I became a busier dad simply because she was on her feet and quite frankly me and my spouse were swept off our feet by her. On more than one occasion I thought of giving up on her monthly photoshoots and monthly letters because there wasn't enough time - Each time I reminded myself the promise I made to myself when I wrote the first letter when she was just a week old - "I would write on her behalf until she can speak for herself" That being said more than a couple of letters have been typed by the tired hands of half asleep father and I hope that you do not get stuck on the lack of verbose or even enough color on some of them. Truth being told having a baby is an event but nothing compared to the years that come after that trying to raise him or her. Although the journey is never downhill it does become a bit joyous on days only to flip you over your head on the next. For all readers of this book I also wanted to mention that having a kid would test you in ways you couldn't imagine, your child would know how to press your buttons and would do that at will and very frequently. It is critical that you hold yourself together and remember that you have invited them to your world and hence are bound to serve Do I love my daughter from the bottom of my heart - Yes Is there a day that doesn't go when I recollect our old days as a happy go lucky couple who could pack up their bags in a jiffy and be off to an adventure - No I wonder if such thoughts make me a bad parent it does make me a tired human who is on the edge of patience levels Whenever we saw a movie where they show the birth of a child the years are shown to go by real quick, and life is all about ooh.. aahhs and laughter. Well, it is not really like that and having a kid will test the parent's relationship as well. Since both are exhausted trying to keep up with someone who has 1000 times more energy than them the smallest spark lights up a big fire where all the built-up frustration acts like lighter fluid. Over the past two years I have learned that is critical to hold on to each other - Say sorry, Hug often and remind yourselves that this phase like the previous one will also pass.