People always say, “You’ll never sleep the same once you have a baby.” I thought that was just one of those scare tactics parents use on non-parents. Turns out, it was the understatement of the century.

One night our newborn just flat-out refused to sleep. Nothing worked — feeding, rocking, pacing the lounge like a lunatic. I ended up singing the same two lines of a lullaby on repeat for nearly an hour, because that’s all I could remember. My partner gave me the kind of look that could end a marriage on the spot. Honestly, if I hadn’t shut up, she might have cried louder than the baby.

It was absolute chaos. But somewhere in that haze of no sleep and frayed nerves, I realised what parenthood really was. Not the Instagram-perfect crap. Not the “sleep when the baby sleeps” rubbish people love to say. It’s being wrecked, half delirious, and still showing up for each other anyway.

That night I also saw just how tough my partner is. She was running on fumes but still had more patience than I could scrape together in a lifetime. Watching her, I thought: this is what family is — messy, exhausting, and somehow the best thing you’ll ever be part of.

We made it through (barely). And now, whenever I catch myself whinging about being tired, I think back to that night and laugh. Because if parenthood teaches you anything, it’s that you can go further than you think — especially when all that’s holding you up is coffee and love.

Micko: A born-and-bred Aussie with a builder’s mindset and a fighter’s work ethic. He runs Primal Recovery and takes pride in fending for his family the old-fashioned way — by showing up, working hard, and keeping the fire burning at home. Fatherhood may be the toughest gig yet, but it’s also the one that’s reshaped what strength really means.

Holly: Originally from Taiwan, she came to Australia more than a decade ago looking for something bigger than what she could find back home — freedom, opportunity, and a life she could shape herself. She built her own business from the ground up before choosing to step back and embrace life as a full-time mum. Grounded, resilient, and fiercely devoted, she’s the heart that keeps the family steady while Micko takes on the world outside.