A Father’s Autumn

I took her close to the tree and guided her hand towards a single leaf

Anand Swamy
3 min readMay 8, 2024

It’s been a while since I’ve written anything, let alone to you. I imagine it’s like riding a bike again, after a long hiatus. It’s bumpy at first, but with time I’m sure I’ll find my stride again.

Even if you find yourself falling off the proverbial bandwagon, you can always get back on and find your way again too.

But that’s neither here nor there.

My daughter is four months old today, and I’ve cherished every moment. It has not been without its difficulties. Late nights, early mornings, and generally living our days on a whim have become commonplace. If you’re a parent, you know this song all too well.

However, it’s also been really great.

I’m an older father, staring down the barrel of 40. I’ve lived some life, learned a few things, made mistakes, will make more, and am eager to impart what’s best in me and share it with Autumn.

We didn’t know if we were having a girl. The name Autumn just felt right. It’s my favorite season because the multicolored leaves are present, and the calm and cool weather mark the end of beginnings.

Yesterday we made a memory that I don’t think I can forget, but if I do, my words will help…

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Anand Swamy

I write about personal development and self awareness.