I have a 4 yr od and a 1 yr old and the kids are great. They don't throw tantrums and generally are well behaved and to be honest, I think I had taken it for granted. I was doing the fatherly things, feeding, bathing reading stories etc but it wasn't till this week that I had an experience that reminded me why being a father is so important.

I woke up last Sunday morning to a screaming child (the 1 yr old) I went to his room and immediately saw that both his eyes were swollen shut and he was in quite a bit of pain.I quickly picked him up and held him, whispering to him that daddy was here and everything would be alright. He stopped screaming and put his arms around my neck and I quickly got him in to the car to take him to hospital.

The poor guy couldn't see a thing so when I put him in his car seat he screamed againg. I jumped in the drivers seat and started talking to him and he quietened again. I got him to the hospital and he's all better now but this experience reminded me how important a role being a parent is. My little guy trusted that I would look after him and just the sound of my voice was enough for him to trust that he was safe and although he couldn't see he trusted me enough to stop crying so I could help him.

Sometimes the day to day grind can make you take the kids for granted but while they are this young its important to remember that they don't take you for granted. You are their world and the only thing they can count on.