A single father reflects on five unforgettable months of paternity leave with his daughter Sara — and the emotional moment of returning to work.
Category: Dad Thoughts
Infantilism | Growing Up at 52, Together With My Daughter
In this personal reflection, I admit something I’ve never been ashamed of: emotionally, I’ve been stuck somewhere around the age of twelve. Strangely enough, that same childish side now helps me connect deeply with my baby daughter, Sara. But years from now, when she reaches the age of twelve herself, will that still bring us closer—or will she be embarrassed by the father who never quite grew up? Maybe, just maybe, that moment will become a turning point for both of us.
Sara’s First War | Holding My Baby in a Safe Room During Rocket Sirens
A personal essay about air-raid sirens, a safe room, and a first-time father trying to maintain normalcy for his four-month-old daughter during war. Written in real time, between sirens, as fear, responsibility, and love collide.
Goodbye to Old Yaniv | How Becoming a Father at 52 Changed My Life
A personal reflection on letting go of a solitary life and embracing fatherhood at 52. From old habits and private passions to new priorities shaped by becoming a single father, this is a story about change, loss, and unexpected fulfillment.
Who’s the Boss? | Life With a Baby Who Runs the House
A humorous take on life with a four-month-old who knows exactly what she wants, one very tired dad, and the nightly realization of who really runs the house.
Sara the Patriot | A Newborn, a TV Show, and My First Night as a Father
A first night as a father in an Israeli maternity ward turns into an unexpected moment of reflection, humor, and parenting irony—when a newborn baby seems oddly drawn to a late-night political TV show.
A Bad Role Model | The Fear of Passing My Loneliness to My Daughter
A single father confronts the fear of being a bad role model, questioning how his life choices may shape his daughter’s future in a single-parent home.
A Parent Is Not Yet Born: When Trusting a Doctor Hurts Your Child
A father reflects on an impossible parenting dilemma: trusting medical professionals while listening to his instincts when his infant daughter suffers unnecessary pain. A personal story about doubt, responsibility, and the courage to seek a second opinion — and to speak up for a child who cannot.
Sara Verstappen, the GOAT: Should My Daughter Have a Sibling?
A single father reflects on surrogacy, money, guilt, and the fear of loneliness—questioning whether giving an only child a sibling truly secures her future.
The Scariest Day of My Life: When My Newborn Stopped Responding
A personal account of the scariest day of my life as a new father, when my ten-day-old daughter became unresponsive. A story of fear, emergency care, and parental anxiety.
Sara and Me 