I am a happy man. In just a few short months I will be a grandfather. My daughter is about to have a child and I could not be happier. I’m scared too. I think that is a natural feeling to have for your daughter, your child, a parental instinct to care and protect. I love sharing the moment with her and the other day we had a breakfast together and as I looked at her across the table she had that beautiful glow and when I looked in her eyes I could see her happiness and excitement.

Ours has not been an easy couple of years. Her mother and I divorced a week or two before Covid so there were many aspects that were difficult and straining. She as my daughter had to deal with the difficulty of watching the bond of her mother and father collapse. She had to decide which side to take or whether to take sides at all. I struggled early on as I still do today but the common thread throughout all of it was that I did not want to lose my children or have them ever feel I didn’t care about their mother. Slowly over time that bond has mended itself well enough along the way to know that we can all still have lives together.

My daughter and I have always been close in a father and daughter fashion. She has always known I have her back and would do anything within my power to help make sure she is happy and safe. The divorce offered a wrinkle for me of a wonder whether that bond was destroyed. I walked around for a year or two believing it was as it should be because I took full responsibility for the divorce. I was the problem and I felt ashamed in the eyes of my children. I have cried enough to convince myself how important my relationship is with both of my children. Over time that has healed as well as it can, and we are again happy to see and know one another. She knows I care for her and I care for her mom but am accepting of the reality of the demise of our marriage. And then bring a new baby into the picture and the wow is wonderful.

My daughter married just over a year ago after a long term relationship with her new husband. They always wanted to have children but they were patient along the way. Once they married it was clear to begin trying. Her mother went over the moon with happiness when she found out her daughter’s condition. My ex has always loved babies and now to have one that she can call her own granddaughter gives her a happiness it must surely be hard to describe. My son as well is beyond words happy for his sister. As a prospective grandfather I feel much the same way.

So here we are in a new stage of our lives. I am happy to know I will be an integral part of my grandchild’s life and that there is delight and love all around us. We have a child coming in our future and all we need is to believe in the love that exists in family and childbirth. I remember when my daughter was born it was the first time I felt I had experienced in true form a natural miracle and now life comes full circle again. Embrace love.