Pete Buttigieg: One year in, parenting has taught us about vulnerability and gratitude

[babylonsister]

https://buttigieg.medium.com/one-year-in-parenting-has-taught-us-about-vulnerability-and-gratitude-170f6e94cbad

Pete Buttigieg
Aug 27
·16 min read·
·One year in, parenting has taught us about vulnerability and gratitude
Note: This piece is in my voice, but Chasten and I worked on this together and I’m thankful for his help.
Pictures at link


snip//

And as much a marvel as their year of growth had been, it seemed just as much had changed in us. The first year may seem one of total transformation for your children, but what about their parents? It’s easy to overlook. “They grow up so fast,” the saying goes. But so do you. It is miraculous for an infant to grow, in one year, from lying swaddled and helpless to nearly walking, from seeing nothing but blurred shapes to smiling with delight and waving as they recognize you coming home after a long day. But it is also an extraordinary transformation for you — it certainly was for me and for Chasten. In one year, you go from someone absorbed in your own worries, hopes, and career, to having fully faced just how much in life is outside your control — and how magical it is to spend every day with someone who matters more to you than your old self could possibly have dreamed of.

As a candidate, I often spoke of how running for office (or being politically involved at all, even voting) is an act of hope. Parenting, too, is an expression of hope, indeed one of the deepest and most vulnerable commitments you can make in the spirit of hope. Your hopes for the future become living, breathing humans. You hope you can do right by them and raise them well. You hope for the best, even when confronted with the possibility of the worst. And the people along the way who help you through the journey help to vindicate your wildest hope of all — that through your children, the goodness of life will go on long after you and your hopes are old news.

[3catwoman3]

1. Such a special man.

Gotta love Secretary Pete.

[Hekate]

2. It was so grand to see 1-year baby photos of the twins at the end. ...

Pete B reveals info about their origins that I’ve never seen before. I thought Pete and Chasten must have had a surrogate mother for their twins — turns out it was a rural woman who gave birth early and let the hospital know she wanted to let her babes be adopted. Hospital called adoption agency, agency called Pete and Chasten, and after they’d been waiting so long it was a surprise and a big hurry-up. And twins!

Lucky little babies. Lucky Pete and Chasten.

[mopinko]

3. always said- there's no shock in life like your 1st kid. and twins? oy.

a lot of people wish for twins. i was carrying twins but 1 failed before we were sure it was there. but the time i got an US, he was not to be found. i was equal parts sad and relieved.
i already had 3, and that boy was trouble enough for 2.

[Lucinda]

4. ❤️ ✿❧🌿❧✿ ❤️