There's a feeling of immense joy coupled with immense responsibility. Suddenly, the decisions that my wife and I make have an impact beyond us. Our son is depending on us to do the right thing. Of course it's tiring and frustrating at times, but to see him discover something new, to see him get excited when he sees Daddy, to spend an evening having him climb all over me makes up for any lack of sleep or disrupted dinner. The best feeling in the world is feeling him rest his little head on my shoulder and hearing him say "Good night Daddy."

Some friends asked if I thought fatherhood had changed me. I said that it gave me a new perspective. I'm the same person, but now the things that are really important to me have a focus. I like reading and writing, and I want my son to learn to enjoy the written word. I want to model my Christian values so he can have a good example to follow into manhood. When I engage in political activism, it's not just the cause I'm working for, it's a cause that is critical to making a better future for my son. I guess, for me, becoming a father gave my values a focus.