My children and me
I have five children and I suppose I wonder what they really think of me as a dad. It’s an age old question, but I wonder if they’re proud of me, embarrassed by me or not. Actually all of them I’m sure at some point or another. have been! Do they see me as their very own cashpoint? A little bit I imagine!
My oldest and first born is J. She will be 21 this year. My goodness where have the years gone? One of loveliest things is that she will always ring and ask my advice when she needs it. Sometimes on very important things, but also the smaller things in life too. I always remember her buying her first car, but she wouldn’t decide until I had seen it. I felt very honoured that she trusted my decision.
My second daughter is E who is 18 years old. She’s in university studying child nursing about 150 miles from home. I miss her not being at home, but we speak and Facetime on the phone quite a few times a week, plus I realise that she is carving out her life and her future, but every now and then she will ring ,e looking for advice. She did recently concerning a lad so I told her straight, stay single! Only joking! Actually we spoke for a quite a while about it and at the end she just said thanks Dad you have made it look much clearer. To be honest I came off the phone and thought, wow she actually respected my advice. That made me feel very good.
My third child is my only son A. He’s 16 years old. The dynamics between father and son is very different to that of a daughter. Sometimes we don’t really say a lot to each other. I’m divorced from his mother, but even now he comes for tea on a Monday after school and always comes on Saturday. He has been doing this for about 11 years now. One of nicest complements that he can give me is at his parents evening he always wants me to go with him which of course I do.
My fourth child is R who is one half of my twins. They’re just under four years old. I think R probably looks a little bit more like me, but already at times I see her having an element of OCD like me! She likes order and everything in it’s place! What makes this relationship so lovely is that she is always quick to come up and say I want a hug or a kiss. It gives you such a lovely feeling inside.
Finally my fifth child is the other half of the twins, M. What I love so much about her is that she is such a free spirit A.ways smiling, but very laid back about life. I would like to think she is like me, but definitely not! She really is just like her mum, but again the best feeling is when she comes up to me holds her arms up and instantly know she wants a kiss and cuddle.
I hope as R and M grow they will be comfortable to be able to come to me to talk about anything.
I would like to think my children think I am fun and I’m always there for them no matter how old they are. Yes, they have all learnt quickly that Dad is a soft touch and of course I am.
Children are a blessing that we can, if we are not careful take for granted. I have been blessed five times which has never ceased to amaze me. If I achieve nothing else in life I believe this is my greatest achievement – my five children.
