The Surprising Thing About Parenting

Becoming a parent was a daunting thought for me. 

I was raised by a single parent, mostly in shambolic conditions. My mother did the best that she could and at the time my father spent his life running away from his problems, something that plagued me as an adult in later years. I new I did not want to make the same mistakes but because of my fear of failing, I failed.

They say, as a general rule we will either copy our parents or be the exact opposite. In much of my life I have been split down the middle, I have my mothers tenacity and my fathers capacity to dream, but I was determined not to have my mothers lack of confidence or my fathers cruel nature when I was a young child.

When I met Chris and fell in love, she wanted to have children before she was 25. My fears immediately came to the forefront and I froze. All of the ‘what ifs’ came rushing back to me; what if I turn out to be cruel, what if I’m a quitter, what if I fail and ruin my children's lives?

Finally it was my biological clock that went off. I was 38 and the fear of what if I did not have a family became more powerful than any sense of failure and trepidation that I might have welling up in in the background. I already had a son from my previous marriage who I had never seen and I was filled with fear and remorse. Again, what if, what if, what if?

I now have three amazing children who I am forever grateful for, they bring joy and inspiration into my life every day and I feel blessed.

My son who is 28 has just made his first run at a Political Office in America. This takes courage and character to step into that arena, he is doing and not talking as so many do. He has been married for three years to a wonderful young woman who I am lucky to call my daughter-in-law. My eldest daughter who is 19, took a year off a year away from Education and stood up to peer and teacher pressure as they all wondered how she would ever get by. She has worked full time and has decided in that year to become a Paediatric Nurse, in September she will start that journey. My eight year old daughter has a passion for life that is insatiable. I am fortunate that I have one more go at watching a child blossom into an adult.

I am so honoured to say that I am a Dad, it's the best thing that has ever happened in my life. These young people all display the qualities that I always wanted in a family; they are brave and they care about the world they live in. They have a moral fibre and want the best for others as well as themselves. They work hard every day to change the world they live in and make it a better place.

Everyday I am inspired and surprised at what they do and achieve and I feel humbled in the paths they have chosen to take.

Live Life to the fullest. No Excuses, No Regrets.