On Father’s Day, I was buried in work, typing away on my computer, completely focused, until I suddenly heard giggles, laughter, and dramatic sound effects like “dishooom!” and “daaaamaar!”

I turned around to find my husband and our little one rolling around on the bed, cuddling and mock-fighting like best friends. That moment pulled me right out of my work bubble. Their faces were lit up with pure joy and it hit me how much they’ve changed each other’s lives.

That’s when the idea struck me, “Why not interview my husband this Father’s Day?“
So here it is, a heartwarming, emotional conversation with the newest daddy in town, talking all things parenting, fatherhood, and the little moments that truly matter.

What was a moment you truly felt like a Dad?

The moment I heard, you were pregnant, everything changed. I can’t explain it, it was like my heart grew bigger in an instant. I wasn’t just thinking about myself anymore. Every decision suddenly had a deeper meaning. That’s when we started planning seriously. We bought a house, talked about the kind of life we wanted to build. I felt this overwhelming need to create a world where my child would feel safe, loved, and free. I wanted to give my son not just everything I had growing up, but even the things I wished I had. That was the moment it truly sank in, I was going to be a father. And it filled me with so much love, fear, and hope, all at once.

Diaper Duties or bedtime stories, what is your jam?

Haha, fortunately, it’s both! Potty time has actually turned into one of our sweetest bonding rituals. My son sits on his little car-shaped potty, and I sit across from him. There’s this quiet moment, and then he starts chatting about school, how Amma scolded him, little things that happened in his day. Somehow, it’s become our time to just talk, heart to heart.

And bedtime stories? That’s my playground. My son loves listening to stories, and luckily, he’s a great audience. I take him through my own childhood stories of Pokémon, dinosaur lands, even Heidi. It’s funny because now he knows what Pokémon is, and I get to relive those memories while watching him light up. I genuinely love doing both the real moments and the magical ones.

So, he enjoys your childhood fantasies more than real-time stories?

You could say that! I get to tell him all the fun cartoon tales from the 90’s, the stuff I grew up with. Today’s cartoons are a whole different world, but now he knows both. It’s like bridging two generations through stories. And honestly, that connection feels really special.

How is your parenting style different from your parents?

That’s a deep one. I think the biggest difference is, I want to give my child the freedom to choose what truly makes him happy. Growing up, many of us were nudged, or even pushed, into doing things that didn’t always align with what we loved. Even today, if I wanted to quit my IT job and follow a passion, it feels like a luxury I can’t afford.

But to me, real luxury is having that freedom, to choose your own path, not just to own a house or a fancy car. I hope to create that kind of safe space for my child. And by safe, I mean emotionally and mentally, where he doesn’t feel pressured or stressed, and knows that his parents are there when he truly needs them.

It’s not just about me spending time with him after work, it’s about being there in the moments he needs me most. I may not have had that kind of presence growing up, but if at least one parent can offer that now, I feel like we’re already doing better.

What does being a millennial Dad mean to you?

(Big smile) For us, apps like Orkut, Facebook, and WhatsApp came into our lives much later, maybe when we were in 10th or 12th grade. But today’s kids are growing up with screens from the very beginning. As a millennial dad, I feel a strong responsibility to protect my child from getting too exposed to technology too early, at least until he’s old enough to really understand it.

It’s easy to hand over a phone or switch on the TV when we’re tired or busy, but I know that’s not what’s best for him. So being a millennial dad, to me, means two big things: one, helping my son grow up with a healthy relationship with technology and two, making sure I don’t hide behind screens either.

It’s actually the tougher part, pushing myself not to be lazy, stepping away from my phone, going outside, and playing with him. That’s where the real parenting happens. And that’s the version of fatherhood I’m trying to live.

How do you handle screen time with kids?

Honestly? I am lucky, I don’t have to handle it alone. My wife (well, that’s me!) takes the lead on this. When my son asks for screen time, all I need to do is glance at you, and you give a nod, yes or no. It’s become a silent understanding between us.

But the real magic is how you sold him on the world of stories. With your expressive storytelling, funny voices, and animated expressions, you created an entire universe that’s far more exciting than any screen. That’s what keeps him away from gadgets , not restrictions, but imagination.

And honestly, the energy you pour into it… it’s huge. It’s not just about stories, it’s about sacrifices too. Whether it’s giving up parts of your career or your me time, you did it all with so much love. I know one day he’ll understand the depth of it. As parents, mom or dad that’s what it takes. You’ve got to show up, put in the effort, and be that alternative to screen time. Thankfully, in our home, at least one of us is able to do that and that makes all the difference.

(P.S. I swear, those words came straight from him, no bribing or blackmail involved! 😄)

What tradition would you like to pass down to your kids?

That’s an interesting one! I think, more than a specific ritual or festival, the tradition I’d really love to pass down is the value of being a close-knit family.

I’ve always craved togetherness, spending time with family, sharing meals, just being present for one another. In many places, especially in the West, kids move out by sixteen or eighteen, and spending time with parents becomes something you schedule in advance, like an appointment. I guess I don’t approve of it , yes I am a little old-school that way.

If, when he’s all grown up, my son says, “I just want to spend some time with Amma and Dadda,” I think that would be the greatest tradition I could have passed on. Teaching him the value of family, how grounding, supportive, and irreplaceable it is, that’s what matters most to me. More than anything else, I want him to feel that home is not just a place, it’s a feeling and that feeling is always worth coming back to.

I’ve heard of “mom guilt” all the time, but I feel like there’s a word you embody dad guilt. It’s not spoken about much, but you carry it deeply. Why do you think that is?

You’re right. “Dad guilt” isn’t a word you hear often but it’s very real. The unfortunate truth is, men aren’t often allowed to be vulnerable. Society wraps masculinity in silence, tells us to be tough, to power through, to not talk about feelings. But for me, family is the one place I let all that go. It’s where I feel safe enough to just be me.

I talk about my child at work, I think about him constantly. And yes, if he’s at home and I take time for myself, not for work, but just for me. I feel a deep guilt. It’s like I’m failing at two things at once: not being there to help my wife, and not being present to play or simply be with my son. I think that guilt comes from my own childhood, from things I missed growing up. I promised myself I’d show up differently.

So how do you handle your “dad guilt”?

Honestly? I avoid situations where I’d feel it. I don’t remember the last time I went to a party just for fun or took a solo trip. If I do anything for myself, it’s only when I know my son is completely happy, like when he’s with his cousins, his grandparents, or just having a great time with his mom. That’s when I can take a guilt-free breath and plan something for myself.

Even then, I might see a dish he loves and instantly think, “Oh, my son would love this.” Life has changed like that but the thing is, I love it. This isn’t something I feel forced into. This version of life, the one where I care deeply, where I carry this invisible thread of connection to him, it makes me feel whole.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give your son when he hits his teens?

When you step into your teens, life will suddenly feel louder, grades, friends, crushes, a thousand opinions about who you should be. My advice? Pause. Breathe. Remember that these years are meant to be lived, not simply survived.

Say yes to experiences, join the game even if you’re picked last, sing at the talent show even if you forget the lyrics, dance and laugh when you slip. Embarrassment is just proof you were brave enough to try. Those “cringe” moments turn into the stories that light you up later.

I don’t want him to get caught between two extremes, one being excessive screen time with TV and games, and the other being unhealthy attachments or addictions. And by addiction, I don’t just mean things like alcohol, it can be anything, like falling into the wrong crowd, making poor commitments, or chasing things that aren’t truly good for him. As a teenager, I know he might struggle to identify it but our job as parents is to guide him gently, not forcefully. To help him take a step back, think things through, and know that it’s perfectly okay to make mistakes.

And remember, home is your recharging dock. Bring every high and low back to Amma and me, no judgment, just ears and steady arms. Be happy, be kind, be responsible. Collect memories you’ll want to replay, not regrets you’ll want to forget.

Wow, it’s been so lovely getting to know the deeper, more emotional side of the Dad you are through this interview. Honestly, I had no idea you were carrying around so much wisdom and dad guilt like it’s a hidden superpower! Maybe next time, I should interview you as a husband. Who knows what other secrets are hiding in that heart of yours.

xoxo,
Mita