When my son, Bailey, was born, I didn’t realize what exactly I had looking back at me from within my arms. It took the better part of a year to wrap my brain around the fact that I am now a father. I expect and hope for him to learn from me and my examples and how I’ve lived. To my surprise, my son has shown me a lot in his brief two years with me – perhaps more so than I’ve shown him.

Every time I am with my son, he reiterates within me all that is good, decent and right in my world. Being only two years old, he doesn’t yet know the inner workings of human emotion and as such, his emotions are true and untarnished. The term “dad” can mean a lot to some or nothing at all to others but when I catch Bailey’s gaze and get a smile followed by “hi daddy”, it means the world to me. He looks at me expecting nothing but for me to love him unconditionally and with all my heart which is the easiest part of my job as a father.

I’m not much of a religious person but seeing the perfect little miracle I helped create leads me to believe that someone cared about me enough to bestow upon me the best gift I’ve ever received these past 28 years. If my purpose in life is nothing else, it’s to take what I’ve been given and help him grow as only a father can. I’ve been entrusted with a life not my own and I have a responsibility to make that life the best I possibly can.

The bond I have with my son transcends anything I’ve had with anyone else – including my own father. I feel everything he feels be it good or bad. He may not be able to articulate his thoughts just yet but I know what’s going on in his mind with a simple look into his innocent eyes. If only it were possible, I’d bear any and all of the pain and hurt that life holds in store for him while letting him reap the joys of being happy. But alas, all I can do is teach him how to overcome obstacles and be a stronger person for it.

Never will there come I time where my son doesn’t come first. Regardless if he’s a few miles away or halfway across the world, I’ll never be out of his reach. I’ll pick him up when he falls and be the first to praise him on the achievements and accomplishments he will have earned in his lifetime. I can already see within him that he is a wonderful person and as he grows, I hope others are able to experience the unsurpassed happiness he has brought to me.

One day, I’ll be able to tell him and he will be able to understand that I’m so proud of him for simply being my son.