Alex Honnold – How We Dad Now

Dads have made damn good progress. We're more involved than ever; we understand the assignment. But let's not pat ourselves on the back. Certainly not as we claw our way out of a pandemic that's altered everything about the way we live our lives. It's high time to ask the knotty questions about raising kids, the ones you've only dared to ponder with your partner or your closest friends, or even just yourself. Because let's be honest, parenting is as terrifying as it is joyful, and sometimes you worry so much that you might just pee your pants. So we did just that. (Posed the questions, not peed ourselves-yet.) The answers we received, on the pages that follow, will teach you a thing or two-the good, the bad, the meconium-tinged ugly-about what it means to be a caring, supportive, badass dad today.

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DO I NEED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN MY CHILD AND MY PASSIONS?

How does parenting change you when you've built your life around climbing rock cliffs without a rope? We asked Alex Honnold, star of the 2018 documentary Free Solo, who became a father for the first time in February.

-JEFF GORDINIER

WHAT'S HARDER, FREE SOLOING OR PARENTING?

I would say that I'm less equipped for parenting so far. I just have a lot less practice. But soloing I've been doing a long time. Honestly, the whole process has given me a lot more respect for all parents.

YOUR DAUGHTER'S NAMED JUNE AND WAS BORN IN FEBRUARY...

Yeah, it's confusing.

DO YOU PLAN TO TAKE HER UP ON CLIMBS?

We've been doing a lot of sport climbing: You hike to a cliff, then set up a picnic area at the cliff. She's been coming to the cliff a fair amount, but she's not going up. She mostly naps. She's two months old. She can barely hold her neck up. But as soon as she's able to walk, we'll be taking her scrambling and things. At the base of these cliffs are boulders and other perfect things for kids to play on. Like, as soon as she's able to move, she'll be playing on rocks.

WHAT IF JUNE ISN'T REALLY INTO THAT?