My dad John, has always been a man's man - not especially in touch with his feminine side and finds it hard to express his emotions. Or so I thought throughout my formative years.
How times change...
Over the last few years I have seen him cry at both mine and my sister's weddings, whilst delivering speeches which have everyone reaching for their tissues. I have come to realise that he is emotional about things that really matter - his family. My dad couldn't be more proud of my sister and I - and neither of us are remarkable in our achievements.
He married very young and had two kids by his early 20s - and when this all fell apart he missed out on them growing up. Our half-sisters are horrible people, they only contact Dad when they want/need something, are always bickering over something (despite being in their 40s) and made it almost impossible for Dad to have any sort of relationship with them.
They are stupid, and are missing out on so much. He will do anything for us (and for most people infact).
Last year when Maya was born we saw a completely different side to Dad. He tried hard to hide his tears when he held her for the first time, but we could see that he was completely in love with her already. Since his retirement we has spent at least one day a week with her, and is always showering her with gifts - if it's not a big noisy toy, it's a beautiful outfit or something to eat. We tell him not to, but it gives him a huge amount of pleasure to spoil her.
Don't get me wrong, Mum is also fantastic with Maya - but we knew she would be. Dad, however, was another kettle of fish. Tonight (whilst mum is in hospital recovering from a knee replacement) Dad came and had his dinner with us, and he fed Maya her tea and gave her her bath - if you had told me this would happen last year - I wouldn't have believed you!
The amazing thing about babies - whilst they can test your patience and allow your worst side to say hello to the world (usually as you are so sleep deprived) - they bring out the absolute best in you and everyone close to them.
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