When I first learned I was pregnant with my son, I had only two

When Kim Brooks confessed: “When I first learned I was pregnant with my son, I had only two firm convictions about parenting: I knew it was important, and I knew that I wanted to get it right. I was 29 at the time,” she spoke the voice of countless souls who stand at the threshold of parenthood. Her words carry the weight of innocence and determination, of one who knows little of the road ahead, yet feels deeply the gravity of the task. For in the heart of parenting lies both fear and hope — the fear of failing, and the hope of guiding rightly.

Her first conviction, that parenting is important, is the foundation of all wisdom. For in every age, men and women have realized that the shaping of the child is the shaping of the world to come. The builders of empires and the dreamers of revolutions were once infants in the arms of their parents, their hearts molded by care or neglect, by gentleness or cruelty. To know the importance of parenting is to acknowledge the eternal truth: that the future of nations begins not in courts or temples, but in the quiet chambers of the home.

Her second conviction, the longing to get it right, reflects the humility of one who recognizes the enormity of the task. To “get it right” is not to be flawless, but to strive with all one’s strength for love, patience, and wisdom. The ancients knew this struggle. Consider the tale of Marcus Aurelius, emperor of Rome and philosopher of virtue. Though he commanded armies and ruled vast lands, in his Meditations he reflected most humbly on the lessons he wished to pass to his children. His greatness lay not only in ruling well, but in striving, even as a father, to “get it right.”

The origin of Brooks’s conviction lies in that sacred moment when one first learns of a child within. At such a moment, the soul is both overwhelmed and awakened. Suddenly the self is no longer the center; life takes on new gravity. For Brooks, at 29 years of age, it was the turning of a page from individual striving to generational legacy. Age does not grant all wisdom, but awareness of responsibility can ignite the soul to rise higher than before.

And yet, her words carry also the subtle acknowledgment of uncertainty. For no parent begins with all the answers. The path is shrouded in mist, and only through walking it does one gain the wisdom to guide. Here lies the paradox: to want to get it right is already the first step of getting it right. The intention, born of love, becomes the compass that leads through error, correction, and perseverance.

The lesson for us is clear: to enter into parenting with humility and conviction is itself a noble beginning. You need not possess all knowledge, but you must possess the heart willing to learn, to rise when you stumble, to keep before your eyes always the importance of the task. For the child does not demand perfection, only presence, love, and the effort of one who cares deeply.

Practical actions flow from this teaching: parents should begin by grounding themselves in the simple but profound truths — parenting matters, and striving matters. Set aside pride and open yourselves to wisdom from others, from books, from elders, and most of all, from the children themselves. Keep the fire of intention alive; let it remind you that mistakes will come, but they do not define you. What defines you is the constancy of love and the refusal to give up the pursuit of what is right.

So let Brooks’s words echo as a teaching to generations: the beginning of parenthood does not require mastery, only conviction. To know it is important, and to desire to do it well, is the seed from which greatness can grow. For the future is not written by perfect parents, but by parents who choose to care, who choose to learn, and who choose to love steadfastly.