Being a dad is an incredible privilege - here’s how to make the most of it

 am a dad! It still feels like I am new at this, and this year, as we approach Father’s Day, it has special significance for me. On Sunday 18th, not only will it be Father’s Day, but my eldest daughter will turn 18. From child to adult - yet still my daughter!

As I write this, she has just finished her last A Level exam and tomorrow I’ll be taking her out for breakfast to celebrate - to celebrate how hard she has worked yes, but also just to celebrate HER. My daughter is amazing.

Being a dad is so important (not because I might get a great bottle of beer and some beautiful homemade cards, although that is wonderful) but, this ’being a dad’ stuff is MASSIVE. In the midst of everything else going on (work, managing money, can we afford a holiday this year, argh the rota from church has just pinged through on my smart phone … etc) I don’t want to add something else – but being a dad is not a DAY, (neither is being a Mum, all about Mothers Day), we are in this 24/7 for – well, for the rest of our lives.

The thing is, the moments, the days and the weeks are rattling past. It is a finger snap since my own children were babies and now – the eldest will no longer be a child.

Guys, let’s not miss a thing!

So, what can we do then? Time might be precious, lacking, stressful … but our children are not just another “thing” or “task” to squeeze into the day … here are some thoughts and places to start if doing “dad stuff” is either an effort, or (now that you think about it) just not happening: