I was genuinely surprised by what it meant to become a father. My ‘arrival’ into this lofty status was etched on the reassuring words of other dads – statements like ‘You’ll be right mate’ or ‘It’s the best thing ever’. So when I found out this wasn’t strictly true – at least for me – you can appreciate my response!

I now know that what many experienced dads forget to tell us new’uns is that fatherhood can be different to what we expect, and it is more like a hike than a picnic. There are tough parts, easy parts, areas to be cautious and spots to rest; but overall it’s generally a full journey that’s beautiful for the most part and memorable enough that you may want do that hike again. Maybe even a few times!