Actor Daniel Radcliffe, best known for his lead role in the eight-film Harry Potter series, recently gave an interview speaking about the joys of becoming a dad.
Radcliffe, 34, appeared on “Today with Hoda and Jenna,” discussing his new role as a father.
“It’s awesome. I think a lot of people said, like, ‘Just get through the first six months, then after that it gets better,’ but I’ve kind of really enjoyed the first six months,” the actor shared, adding,
I don’t know what I imagined, honestly, but it’s great. He’s incredible and I’m just, like, in awe.
Radcliffe welcomed his son into the world with his girlfriend Erin Darke in April 2023.
Christians affirm that every new life is a gift from God – that’s true for every child, regardless of the circumstances they are born into. There are no “illegitimate” children in God’s eyes.
Nevertheless, Christians also believe that sex – and therefore parenting – is intended only for marriage. This is true for spiritual reasons, but it’s also true for natural reasons because children do best when they are raised by their own married mother and father.
“Most researchers now agree that … studies support the notion that, on average, children do best when raised by their two married biological parents.”
Now, Radcliffe has described himself as “agnostic” and leans politically to the left. After Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling became increasingly outspoken against “transgenderism,” Radcliffe accused her of “erasing the identity and dignity of transgender people.”
But boldy asserting that sex is binary and innate, and that men should not be allowed into women’s sex-segregated spaces – as Rowling has done – does no such thing. She has simply reaffirmed a biological reality.
Despite being off the mark in many ways, Radcliffe’s remark about the joy he’s received from fatherhood is a welcome counter to our cultural narrative that parenting is really not worth the effort.
In fact, given Radcliffe’s liberal ideology, hopefully he can speak to more “progressive” audiences about why parenthood is a good thing that brings great happiness and joy, regardless of its challenges.
We need as many people as possible to speak about the benefits that marriage and parenthood bring.
That’s because a recent survey from Pew Research Center found that vastly more Americans (71%) said having a job or career they enjoy is important to live a fulfilling life compared to those who said having children (26%) or being married (23%) is important to them.
Now, it’s true that parenting is a challenging endeavor. But it’s also one of the most rewarding things any individual can pursue. And the research bears this out.
The Daily Citizen recently analyzed a national survey from Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center that found many parents in American are experiencing high levels of isolation, loneliness and burnout from the demands of parenthood.
But as we noted, “While this is one study showing the loneliness of parents, the larger body of social science research has generally shown that parenting brings meaningful and measurable life happiness (emphasis added).” In fact, compared with their peers, “married adults with children are happiest.”
For Christians, marriage and parenthood do not just serve a utilitarian purpose. Rather, the family reflects the very image and likeness of God Himself, who before the first moment of creation, existed in an eternally-loving relationship: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Human beings, who were made in the image of God, were thus made for relationship, with marriage being the highest of all possible human relationships.
So, no matter what our culture says, marriage and parenting remain very good things indeed.
To speak with a family help specialist or request resources, please call us at 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).
To strengthen your family, check out our marriage and parenting resources.
Related articles and resources:
Focus on the Family: Parenting
Unmarried Mom with Kids Feels ‘Second Class’ Around Christians
Marriage and Family Improves Happiness Far More Than a Pay Raise
The Case for Marriage: Why Viral TikTok of 29-Year-Old Single Woman is Problematic
No, Young Adults, Marriage Has Not ‘Outlived Its Usefulness’
Photo from Getty Images.
