Happy new year, and all that. Nothing much changed in my life, although my son is almost one year old. It has been a crazy experience, I can't believe how hard it is. I could go in to all the usual yada-yada about what it's like. But I think the best way I can relate the experience is like this. I have a friend who just quit work to get married and move away and start a family. I told her this is where your life begins, this is where the fun starts. Your highs will be higher, but your lows will be lower. Raising a child will be the hardest thing you ever do. But no single person has lived life until they have sacrificed their sleep and very health for the sake of someone else. Your life doesn't have the same meaning when all you do is skirt chase or club hop or climb the corporate ladder or run whatever rat race is your thing. My final take on it is this. Everyone asks why are we here, what is the meaning of life. Raising children is what humans were made for. Your life will have no meaning until that threshold has been crossed.