For fathers, life can be full of both difficult and triumphant moments — from the early days of figuring out diaper duty and late-night feedings to one day allowing grown children to help care for them. It's all about the full circle of fatherhood — how it evolves, how it challenges us, and how it connects us across generations. Stories from fathers and from those caring for their aging parents provide honest, heartfelt glimpses into what it means to show up as a dad and for a dad.
First Steps into Parenthood
There’s nothing quite like the beginning of fatherhood — the quiet, chaotic, heart-bursting moments that mark the start of a new life and a new chapter. In those first few weeks, time bends and blurs as sleepless nights meet unforgettable firsts.
“Having your first child is world-rocking,” said Kyle. Though Kyle works in a state that does not require Paid Family & Medical Leave as a statutory benefit, he had access to parental leave provided privately by his employer. He was grateful to be able to step away, stating that it was essential. “I think no matter how many kids you have, [taking time away from work] is needed. Especially after my wife had a c-section. She had to take it easy for at least a couple weeks, so being able to help, that's huge.
Tim, who owns his own business, juggled his schedule and didn’t have to formally take time off to be sure he could be home for the first weeks of his child’s life. “One afternoon, [my daughter] fell asleep on my chest while I was reading, and I just stayed there for hours. Nothing urgent, no clock ticking. I got to just be there. You can’t schedule that. But not every day was magical — some days were just hard.”
As father of three, Kyle also reflected on how those first weeks can be challenging. “[With more kids], whether you have 200 or two, [those early weeks] can be incredibly difficult. You're in a hospital for a week. You get back home, and you're just dragging. You're not sleeping. You're not taking care of yourself. You're taking care of a baby. You’re not good for a few weeks. It's just the way it is.”
“It’s not a vacation,” Tim said of the time he spent away from work. “Look, those six weeks were probably the most emotionally challenging and rewarding time I’ve had in recent memory. [But] it gave me a chance to just be ‘Dad’ without a calendar full of meetings.”
Tim and Kyle also reflected on their return to work. Kyle reflected on balancing life and work. “You can't separate work from family life. You just can’t. When you're at work, you are still a parent,” he said. “When you're home, you try to leave work at work, but it's even harder to separate family from work when you're at work. You're a dad or you're a mom 24 hours a day. You don't clock in for that. You're just always accountable for that job.”
“I came back [to work] a little more grounded, more patient.” Tim said, reflecting on his own return to the office. “I was a bit out of rhythm the first week or so, but I had a new sense of purpose.”
Caring for a Parent
Elder care is often an unpredictable journey — helping a parent through recovery, being there for a loved one’s diagnosis and when it matters most. For many adult children, the responsibility of caring for a parent during a major health crisis comes with both love and stress.
My grandparents were my parents,” Cindy explained. “My parents were always working, and these people were the backbones of our home. My grandfather was an agriculturist. He could tell you everything about every tree. I picked that up from him, and we would garden every single year, right here on Long Island. I have eggplants that grow in my yard until the end of Christmas every single year, for the past 20 years
As an employee of ShelterPoint, working in New York, Cindy had access to statutory benefits like New York DBL and PFL, and she was able to take time to care for her grandfather when he became very ill. When you know someone your whole life, to watch how they decline — especially when it's somebody who takes themselves to the doctor, takes their medication, does the right thing for themselves — it's never easy to watch.”
Laura was also a caregiver for a loved one, her father. “My dad taught me to be honest, to have a good work ethic, and just always look on the bright side,” Laura said of her father. “I remember as a child — those electric bikes. We called it a moped. My dad took me for a ride, and we found a wallet lying on the ground. He looked and saw there was a driver's license that had the address. We took the wallet back to the guy.”
When her father faced a severe diagnosis, Laura wanted to be there for him. “One of my dad’s lines was ‘every day's a good day, just some days are better than others.’ He would try to remain positive, and he used a lot of humor,” Laura said. “My dad had humor. And we tried to do the same for him, to be positive and keep a sense of humor.”
Cindy reflected on how she balanced caring for her grandfather and managing her other responsibilities. “You keep going,” she said of her determination to be there for her grandfather through his illness. “That's how life is. You’ve just got to keep going. You can't stop."
During her father’s ongoing illness, Laura often felt torn between wanting to be by her father’s side and tending to her other responsibilities. While she didn’t have access to statutory Paid Family and Medical Leave in her state, she did have intermittent leave through FMLA, as her husband was also battling a severe illness at the same time. “You’re thinking about how you can do the right thing. If you're at work, you're thinking, ‘well I should be off,’ or feeling it should be you taking them to the appointment and being there to help answer and hear about treatment.”
The stories shared by Cindy and Laura reflect similar stories of caregivers stepping up to be there for their loved ones. Cindy’s work at ShelterPoint also allowed her to hear the stories of many grown children who are now caring for their elderly parents. She spoke of a poignant conversation with a woman who has just lost her mother and was currently caring for her father. These are my fellow humans,” she said, “and we all share similar stories."
Celebrating and Supporting Parents
As we pause to celebrate and honor parents during this season of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, we’re reminded of the many forms that love and care can take — whether welcoming a new child or supporting an aging parent. The stories shared above serve as a tribute to the strength, vulnerability, and commitment that define caregiving across generations.
These moments — big and small, joyful and challenging — reflect the heart of what it means to show up for family.
At ShelterPoint, we recognize the importance of being there when it matters most. In many states with statutory benefits, we provide Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) to support working individuals who need time to care for loved ones, whether at the start of life or during times of need later on. It’s one small way we contribute to helping families navigate life’s most meaningful transitions.
To learn more about PFML and how it supports families and caregivers, explore our PFML resources, or signing up for updates.
Note: Unless otherwise noted, most participants of our Moments that Matter campaign celebrating Mother’s Day and Father’s Day did not work in states with statutory Paid Family and Medical Leave benefits.
The ShelterPoint family of companies operates under the “ShelterPoint” name strictly as a marketing name, and no legal significance is expressed or implied. The ShelterPoint family of companies consists of ShelterPoint Life Insurance Company a NY-domiciled carrier (principal office in Garden City, NY) and its wholly-owned subsidiary ShelterPoint Insurance Company, a FL-domiciled carrier, with licensing depending on the state.
This material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal counsel. Please consult with an appropriate professional for legal and compliance advice.