Often in childcare the primary contact that we have with most families is with the mother.

However, lately I have been in environments where I have had opportunities to converse with some new dads who had recently become fathers. This has given me a completely new perspective on fathers and an appreciation of just how complex their feelings were about being a Dad. In honour of that, I felt that this poem was most appropriate for Fathers' Day.

'Before I was a Dad I made and ate hot meals. I had unstained clothing. I had quiet conversations on the phone.

Before I was a Dad I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth every day.

Before I was a Dad, I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Dad I had never been pooped on, spit up on, chewed on, peed on, or pinched by tiny fingers.

Before I was a Dad I had complete control of myself; my thoughts, my body, and my mind. I slept all night.

Before I was a Dad, I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Dad I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Dad.

Before I was a Dad, I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a Father and his child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Dad, I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every ten minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonder, or the satisfaction of being a Dad. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Dad.”

'I feel that I was put on this earth just to take care of them.”

-Marc Forno, author of the ‘Dad' modified version.