Dr. John Cable and his wife Janet have finally welcomed their second son. Jude Grant Cable was born on Oct. 10, adding a new layer of tenderness to an already loving and gentle family.
Having children wasn’t always Cable’s plan—it was only in 2019 that the couple decided to reconsider their two-person household. As Cable navigated going from graduate school to teaching high school and ultimately earning his PhD, the timing was never quite right.
Finding a balance in their obligations and personal lives, the Cables had their first son, Wallace, in 2020. While that experience came with some challenges, it also made them more prepared for Jude’s arrival.
“Wallace being the first one, I think everything was just a little bit more intense,” Cable said. “The second time around, we knew a little bit more of what to expect, like the range of emotions and all of that. So just knowing a little bit more about the process made things
less extreme and less intense.”
As he revisits the last nine months only with fondness, laughs, and frequent smiles, that less chaotic atmosphere and decreased anxiety is present in his demeanor. It’s no surprise, then, that Wallace has been so easygoing and attentive since Jude came home.
“I don’t know what we did to have such a kindhearted kid, but he has been helpful,” he said. “He stands up on [a bean bag], watches, and makes sure that if Jude is crying, he gives him his little pinky for Jude to hold.”
“He tells him things that settle him down, things like that all the time,” Cable continued. “A lot of parents worry about how the first child is going to cope… but in this case, it’s just been—I mean, knock on wood—it’s been great so far.”
In between moments of congratulation from colleagues filtering in and out of his office, Cable reflected on the last nine months as “fun, tough, and exciting… the positive outweighs the tough.”
While Jude is undoubtedly a happy addition to the Cable family, learning of the pregnancy was a rollercoaster of emotion for the couple. Returning a missed call from his wife, Cable heard the news just moments before going in to teach his African American history class. He cancelled his office hours for the day to be with his wife, easing their worries and working out the logistics together over a long walk.
“Once we both kind of agreed [that everything was going to be all right], it was just a matter of getting prepared,” Cable said.
With all the nerves, anxieties, and even moving to a new home, Cable glows with excitement when he talks about his new son, choosing to aim his focus on acceptance and gratitude. This focus is especially clear when detailing his experience in the operating room.
While the calming sounds of Gregorian chants and polyphonic music played in the delivery room, Cable said, “I walked over to take a picture of him for the first time… and they’re like, ‘Do you want to cut the cord?’ I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, they didn’t tell you I’m squeamish!’”
After multiple tries (and suppressing his unease), the cord was cut, and what was initially a stressfully unpleasant moment became a story recalled with laughter and sentimentality.
While a father’s role is to raise and guide his children, Wallace and Jude are equally guiding their dad down a path of empathy, gratitude, and love for other human beings.
“It’s very true that the love you have for your kids is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced,” Cable said, “but what also comes from that is that you start to see other people as people who used to be somebody’s kid. Like, your kid is your kid, and you are somebody who is somebody’s kid. And somebody loves you like I love my kids.”
“I think—I hope—[being a parent] makes you a more sympathetic, empathetic, warm, kind person,” he continued. “Your eyes are open to a different side of people.”
For new and future fathers, Cable said, “Go out of your way to be helpful. Be understanding and extend grace wherever it’s needed. And forgive yourself if your routine gets interrupted.”
“I’m finding that there are things I just probably can’t do as much anymore now that there are two kids in the mix,” he said, “and that needs to be okay.”
Empathy, grace, and kindness: Dr. Cable exudes these attributes daily, and there is no doubt that he will pass these along to his two young sons.