On a day like today

On a day like today is kind of a sequel to Al Pal. Having written about the birth of a first born son as seen through the eyes of a father, it was natural to write a another about the second born child seen through the same eyes. This time, it's a girl.

The difference between the two is that having felt the anxiety of being a new parent, there is a lot more confidence about bringing up a second child, so a lot of the worry has dissolved. There is also a feeling that having a girl and boy, it makes the family complete.

Thinking beyond their childhood, there's the mystery surrounding how their life will pan out and the hope for their well being as they grow up. As a father there is a tendency to be over protective of a daughter, but as a little girl you can see the woman in her eyes and that she wants to be able to express herself without fear of constraint or limitation put on her by the expectations of society. There's a realisation that being over protective can unintentionally restrict her personal growth.

Watching her grow into womanhood you know there is a time when she will want to leave the nest and live her own life, so there's a hope she will know there's always a place she can come if she ever needs additional support. As a father, you're her safety net all through her life and that will always be there.

In the words of Joe Jackson "It's different for girls" and it's your job as dad to understand that.