Prior to having kids, I often wondered ‘what if my children do not take to me as much as i would like them to?’ What if they just look at me as just ”Dad”, the man that goes to work and comes home with food, that thought used to worry me.

I remember the first time the words came out of my daughter’s mouth ” Daddy you are my best friend”. I failed to understand how those few words from a three year old could almost make a grown up cry.

Me and Rylie had the day to ourselves as she was not feeling too well. I took the day off work to look after her as my partner had work commitments. We started our day like we do, every day. Ryle likes to jump on my back as I do my push ups and every other exercises. As far she’s concerned, she is my personal trainer, this makes me laugh! We then make ‘my’ breakfast, just enough for both of us because I know she would only eat from my plate when she is ill.

The day went by, we watched a little bit of pepper pig ( which I’m not a big fan of, that’s another convo). Actually, thinking about it, we watched A LOT of pepper pig. Next on the list was Ben and Holly and many more to keep Rylei entertained. I try to encourage my girls to read and be very interactive in everything they do. Ry could count from 1-10 and recite the alphabet before she was two years old.

We spent the day just like every other day that I spent with them. It is important to make every moment I spend with them special. I never thought they actually realised it until it was time to put her to bed that night as usually the bed time conversation started like this:

Ry: Dad can you carry me to bed and put the blanket on me please

Me: Sure bubba

Ry: Dad can you read me bed time story of a boy called Tom Tom

I have to make up a tom tom story every time, I made up a nice and short story as Harlie was sleeping, so didn’t want to wake her up

Me: Tomorrow we will read about princess Rylie, ok?

Ry: Ok daddy

She paused for a few seconds then the words came out

Ry: Ogz ( my partner calls me that lol)

Me: Yes baby

Ry: You are my best friend and I love you very much.

I could have cried when she said those words to me, the simplest words, but they took me somewhere else.

That night I realised that I did not just want my girls to be daddy’s girls, I wanted to be their best friend, the person they can count on and share all their worries with and Rylei showed me that i i am on the right path.