My son is now ten months old, and it is so much fun! This was our first Christmas with a child, and we were pumped!

If you have had kids I am sure you can relate to the joy and deep satisfaction you get from watching your kid grow and learn. And then reaping the rewards for your efforts by receiving a grin, chuckle of laughter and a cuddle. It is hard work, and those smiles are easily worth it!

We like to think he is advanced for his age (as most parents do). Our little man is able to pull himself up into standing, walk while holding on with one hand, crawl, give you the best cuddles, and best of all... he will greet me when I get home from work with an enormous grin and say “Dad!”.
Parenting has been the steepest learning curve. But it is awesome. Especially awesome, as he is now at such a delightful age.

Friends who haven’t had kids yet will ask my wife and I, “What’s it like to be a parent?”. And it is such a hard question to answer in a way that brings the full meaning to what you are trying to express. It is other-worldly. It is so much good stuff yet so challenging all rolled into one... and you cannot prepare for it. 

I want to shake them and urge them to get married ASAP and have a kid. I want to warn them of how scary it is to see your kid almost choke on something. I want to tell them that it is like your love for your wife and family expands and grows rather than get redistributed. But I refrain because one cannot go on such a crazed rant at a Christmas dinner party.
So what do I say to my friends when they ask “What’s it like to be a parent?”. 

I tell them that they should find out for themselves, and to make it soon, as I want more parent-friends my age!

One of the best parts is watching the child's rapid growth and development.

Our boy was 3.7kg when he was born, and he is now around 10kg. Initially, we found it hard holding a 3.7kg weight for hours at a time. We still find it hard, yet he is a 10kg lump of joy. 

 Over 8 months we have been having to cart this little man around, and our arm muscles have adapted and strengthened. How cool is that?
This is the principle of progressive overload. Progressive overload is when you gradually increase the weight, frequency, or number of repetitions in your strength training routine. 

Progressive overload is what has helped his nervous system adapt, change, and grow. And progressive overload has led to his muscles lengthening, strengthening, and developing. 

The body does extremely well with slow increases in load, as it is designed to improve and get healthier to the right level of stimulation. 

With the New Year well and truly upon us, this is an invaluable lesson, as many people will be setting new health goals. Be sure to factor in this principle of gradual increase in volume to avoid injury. Let's make this year a great one!


Photo: Choc.org