I still remember the day.It was a Friday in March2020, just shortly after the world had changed.We stood in line,waiting to enterthe drug store.After a walk home,with mixed feelings,wetookthe pregnancy test-positive.Wow.We're becoming parents!  

It was a good feeling, but not without fear or concern.  

Still,weknew thattherewas no perfect time to become a dad or a mum.Either you're too youngorjust finished school, orperhapsyou want towork on your career. It doesn't reallymatter; kidstend tocome into your life without checking if it's a good time or not.And we knew now was better than never. 

I wasalsojust a few days awayfrom startingmynew job as aCiscoCustomer Success Specialist. I worried about the workload, not wanting to be a "weekend dad"andknowing I wanted to be there for my child,and a part of her life from the very beginning.But when I told my new manager that I was becoming a dad -I realized there was nothing to worry about. He was very happy for me, and when we discussed time off, his response was this: "Yes. Do it! Take all the time you need!" 

This is notsomething I will ever take for granted, especiallyas I was so new to Cisco!  

As we live in Germany, we already have a good parental leave system in place. So, I knew I would be able to take some time off from work to dedicate to my wife and our new baby. But, with a global company like Cisco -I learned thatthey also have your back and are there for you. This was no different, and I was proud to see that their policyfor my regionincluded not only the birth of a child, but adoption, surrogacy, and even support for grandparents. 

With anadditional four weeks ofCisco's Child Bond Leave, I was able to extend my time at home with my wife and our new daughter,Mila Aurelia.These moments meant everything to us! 

Inthe beginning, everything is so new-not only to the tiny human, but also to her new parents. This is a new job, and there is so much to learn! Every day brings a new accomplishment, and every night brings a little more sleep deprivation with it.No one canreallysaybeforehandhow the nights willbe -butknowing about sleep deprivation is not the same as living it. It reallydoes take time to adjust to your new role, and the time off to focus on Mila andourselveswas crucial in ourbond as a family. 

Yes, my days are now filled with changingdiapersover and overand over again. But they were also filled with moments of watching herfall asleep, laugh, blink her tiny eyes andstartmovingmore and more every day. I am so thankful that, even though I was a new employee, Cisco treated me no differently -they supported and were excited for my family, and our newest littleCisconian! 

By the way, a pregnancy reveal can also be done in a vacation picture slide show over Cisco WebEx. ?  

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