SINGAPORE – Being a first-time parent is terrifying. Something about the initiation into parenthood causes intelligent adults to disconnect from their brains.... People with doctorates and otherwise confident adults are reduced to quivering pools of nerves as soon as they take their first child home from the hospital.My wife and I were no different. The news of becoming pregnant with our elder son, R, took us by surprise.... We took to heart advice from friends to savour the pre-baby period, w