The morning she cried for 'Mommy,' and the day our family became four

Last night, my daughter was crying.

“I want Mommy...”

She said that while hugging her mom's pillow.

My usually cheerful E-chan was shedding tears with a trembling voice.

Daddy is right there next to her.

I'm holding her.

I'm stroking her hair, too.

But what she wants right now isn't Daddy.
It's Mommy.

Seeing her like that made my heart ache.

My wife is hospitalized to give birth.

Just the absence of someone who is usually there changes a child's world significantly.

“The baby will be born in a little while, you know.”

Even when I said that to her,

“I want Mommy...”

came the reply in a small voice.

In the end, E-chan fell asleep while hugging her mom's pillow tightly.

Watching her, I couldn't fall asleep for a long time either.

And the next morning.

Woke up at 7:30 AM.

We ate breakfast and headed to daycare as usual.

She was as cheerful as if her crying yesterday was a lie.

I am always amazed at how quickly children can switch gears.

“See you later!”

I watched her back as she ran toward her classroom saying that.

But my heart wasn't settled.

Something was going to happen today.

I had that premonition.

10:20 AM.

I get a message from my wife.

“My labor has started.”

It finally came.

My hand gripping the smartphone tightened.

I tried to calm down, but it was impossible.

It wasn't like before an important work presentation.

It wasn't like a promotion exam either.

Because this isn't something you can experience many times in life.

I keep looking at the clock.

I can't focus on anything I do.

I'm restless.

Just purely restless.

And 11:20 AM.

A call from the hospital.

“Please come.”

With those words, it suddenly became reality.

I rushed to the hospital.

My heart was pounding even while I was driving.

12:00 PM.

Arrived at the hospital.

But the baby wouldn't be born right away.

It seems things were progressing but stalling a bit.

Just waiting.

Waiting intently.

This time is long.

Really long.

And above all, my wife looks like she's in pain.

I'm just there beside her.

I can only hold her hand.

“Are you okay?”

Asking that is meaningless.

Of course she's not okay.

Even so, my wife was doing her best.

I think about it again.

Childbirth is truly amazing.

It's something a man can never experience.

Actually, with our first child, it was during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I couldn't even enter the hospital.

I couldn't be there for the birth.

I couldn't even see the moment of birth.

So this was my first time experiencing a birth in person.

A sight I'm seeing for the first time at 42.
I'm happy.
But I'm scared.
I'm moved.
But I'm nervous.

Various emotions were all jumbled up.

And 3:00 PM.

That moment arrived suddenly.

The baby's cry echoed.

My wife had a look of relief on her face.

I was just stunned.

Born.

Really born.

And the moment I saw the face.

My wife and I looked at each other.

A few seconds later.

We both burst out laughing.

“It's E-chan (laughs).”
“No, it's completely E-chan (laughs).”

They looked unbelievably alike.

The eyes.
The mouth.
The expressions.

It was like time-traveling back five years.

I thought I would cry with emotion.

But laughter came first.

That's how much they looked alike.

The baby is small.

Really small.

The arms and legs are thin.

But they are alive.

Crying with all their might.

That sight was too cute.

I looked at the face many times.
I held the hand many times.
I took photos many times.
The more I look, the cuter they are.
I'm completely a doting parent.

But I think all fathers and mothers in the world are like that.

It was the moment our family became four.

I want to soak in the emotion.

But reality isn't that sweet.

There's the next mission.

Picking up E-chan from daycare.
I told her in the car.
“The baby was born.”

Then,

“Really!?”
Her eyes were sparkling.

We arrived at the hospital, and it was finally time for the first meeting.

The moment she saw the baby,

“So cute!!!”

A loud voice echoed throughout the hospital room.

And then she continued,

“I'll take care of them!”
“I'll give them milk!”
“I want to hold them!”
She was completely in big sister mode.
Last night.

I can't believe it's the same child who was crying while hugging her mom's pillow.

Just one day.

But she had definitely grown.

Children are amazing.

They are stronger than parents think.

And now that I'm on paternity leave, I think.

If I were still living a work-first life, I might not have been able to see this view.

For over 20 years, I've lived centered around the company.

Work from morning till night.

There were days I prioritized work over time with my family.

But I felt it today.
What is truly important in life?

Of course, money is important.

I will continue building assets.

I'm also aiming for FIRE.

However, just for this moment today, I can say it clearly.

More than any promotion.

More than any evaluation.

The view I saw today was more valuable.

Of course, it's not all sunshine and rainbows.

From now on, there will be sleep deprivation.

There will be crying at night.

There might be regression in behavior.

It will cost money, too.

There are many anxieties.

But I think that's what being a family is.

42 years old.

The halfway point of life.

At that age, a new life has begun again.

Until yesterday, a family of three.

From today, a family of four.

It will surely be tough.

But it will surely be interesting.

It was an unforgettable day in my life that made me think that.