To my friend who worries about becoming a parent: here are some things to hold on to

‘My son is doing this thing at the moment where he has started kissing his favourite characters in the books we read. Every time he does it I feel a soaring happiness.’ (Picture posed by models) Photograph: PhotoAlto/Alamy

I decided to write this column in the format of a letter. I wanted to set myself the writing challenge of citing some of the many positive things about having a baby without being saccharine, resorting to cliche or generalising, and the only way I could find was this way. It’s addressed to one person, but I hope that those who find themselves at a similar crossroads take succour from it.

To my friend A,