Andy Samberg’s hilarious observations about becoming a new dad

Andy Samberg and Joanna Newsom welcomed a baby girl in August, and while he still won’t tell us her name, he is talking about his journey into parenthood.

It’s been quite the learning curve for the new dad.

“It’s interesting, when your wife is pregnant and you’re expecting, everyone’s like, ‘It’s incredible. Get ready. It’s magic. It’s the most life-changing experience you’ll ever have. Brace yourself for heaven,’” Samberg said on Jimmy Kimmel Live this week.

“And then the second the baby comes, everyone’s like, ‘Welcome to hell! Hahaha! You fool!” he added. “I feel like I’m gonna get kicked out for telling everyone without kids—it’s really hard. I’d look out.”

Samberg is right: Having a baby is joyous and and magical, but also frustrating and challenging at times. After months of baby showers and constant congratulations, it can almost feel like parenting is a bit of a bait-and-switch.

But, as Samberg also said, with high stakes come high rewards—especially when it comes to the privilege of raising a little person.

“She’s still really young, but she has started just sitting there and making fart noises with her mouth and then laughing really hard,” he said about the benefits of parenthood. “And I was like, ‘Oh, well, I’ve taught her everything I know.’”

And when you experience those early baby smiles, silly toddler dance parties or moments of deep connection with older kids, it can feel as if everything else that’s challenging about parenthood fades away.

Besides, Samberg said there are some other perks to parenthood—namely the treatment he’s received at work and the dad-style he’s assumed.

“I’m changed. I don’t know if you noticed, but I suddenly was gripped with the urge to buy those Steph Curry nurse shoes,” Samberg joked of the oft-mocked tennis shoes. “I was like, ‘I think I’m making them work, I think they look cool…’ I went outside and a bunch of dads were like, [pointing] ‘Yeah!’”

Dads have their comfy shoes. Moms have our yoga pants and top buns. Who said parenthood doesn’t have its perks?