I feel like the prodigal son that has come back to his home from a long voyage of discovery. This voyage encompasses fatherhood and self-discovery too! I’m glad to be writing for Daddy Diaries again, I’ve missed it so much and it is one of the places where I feel truly home!  

So this journey has been amazing and eventful. Thanks to Yomi and Gabrielle Smith, I was asked to do a mini-speech representing Daddy Diaries and how it has helped me as a dad and a person, at the More Than XY gallery exhibition launch in June. The exhibition showcased some wonderful beautiful and inspiring art, highlighting positive black fathers and male role models.  

It was a real privilege to be a part of the launch with other inspiring talented performers like poet/writer/playwright Inua Ellams, storyteller/poet Nick Makoha and singer/songwriter Dionne Reid amongst others. I was inspired watching them talk to other positive fathers, and networking with other like-minded people! It was made even easier because I had my daughter Lily and my wife Mary there too and they’re both very beautiful, so people gravitate towards their positive spirits. And I finally met some of my Twitter buddies face to face! 

Before my speech, we were shown a homemade video by fellow dad Linwood Darkis from Daddy Diaries (He couldn’t make it as he lives in Texas) and that was so positive, funny and it brought to me the importance of being a dad and that we shouldn’t take this responsibility lightly. The video brought me to uncontrollable tears. My speech was well-received and I really enjoyed giving it and opening up my emotions and feelings to the welcoming audience. It did become a battle of holding back more tears though but I did well. I was just so thankful for the opportunity really. And Yomi’s introduction for me was truly breath-taking and so complimentary, and when I get compliments face to face, I get very quiet and shy but I was so appreciative of it! 

Now back to my shining glory aka my daughter Lily! This little lady is growing up so quickly on a daily basis, I’m starting to see her stubborn, active, funny, happy personality coming through! She’s always laughing and smiling at the most random things, especially if the same thing is repeated again and again – babies love repetition! Ha ha! I am so proud of her and what she’s becoming! She’s just over 5 months old now (23 weeks), is well into her teething stage (been there for over a month now), and has just recently started eating her first tastes of pureed food! At the moment because her taste buds haven’t developed yet, she is all about the sweet fruity foods. She gobbles them up a lot! Her teething stage is mostly going ok but the pain does get to her a lot recently as that first tooth wants to come out, sometimes the teethers can’t help her with that intense pain but she’s chewing on hands, chew toys, water teethers, the lot and she’s mostly doing very well. She’s a strong one! It’s hard to see your child crying in so much pain but sometimes nothing can be done, we’re coping well though. 

Lily is really getting to grips with gripping and holding various objects (and usually putting them in her mouth) and playing around with her toys and on her playmats. She’s discovering new things, textures, sounds, and is learning how to push herself up and sit up by herself for longer. She also started to babble yesterday and made her first “Da-da” sound, which was a beautiful moment as she mostly says it when looking at me. She’s developing incredibly well. I am beyond proud of her and I can’t wait to see the rest of her journey!