Grateful dads

We asked Canadian Living dads to "tell us the one thing you learned about yourself that you didn't know until you became a dad". Here four fathers share their thoughts:

The first moment I held my son in my hands my life was changed forever. Since that moment I have learned to survive on broken sleep patterns, adjust to spilled milk and food all over things that before would never be soiled, deal with diapers like I was born to it and learned to suppress my gag reflex like never before. I have learned that a small accomplishment like standing on skates for the first time can move me to tears, and the fears I never knew before are now important.

Most of all I learned that love shines above all else -- including the horror of broken antiques!
John Wilkes, Iroquois Falls, Ont.

I have learned too many things being a Dad...but one of the more important things is that it takes time to be a Dad. It takes time to spend time with your kids. It takes time to teach your kids the values of life. It takes time for them to grow up.

Kids need a dad. They need a dad to teach them how to use a hammer, to wrestle them on the living room floor, to show them how special their Mom is, to teach them right from wrong. Hey -- this all takes time. Before you know it, they are grown up, and some of that valuable time is gone. I never want to be too busy -- and find that the time has come...and gone!

Happy Father's Day to all those dads out there -- who have a special purpose in life!
Al Thiessen, Salmon Arm, B.C.

One thing that I learned about myself that I didn't know until I became a dad is how much love one person has to give.

Yes, I love my wife very much and I tell her that every day, but when you become a father, from the smallest little scratch on a knee to the monsters under the bed, the love that you share with your children seems to make everything better, and the love that you get back means so much more. I remember the first time my oldest daughter Courtney who is 3 years old now said to me "I WUV YOU DADDY!" It brought tears to my eyes and I know that she feels this way because of the love that I showed her.
Brian Plath, Pembroke, Ont.

I've been a dad almost 19 months now, and I've learned many things about myself in that time. Perhaps the one that was a bit of an eye-opener was that I finally understood why my dad still worries about me after 35 years. Before I was a father, I asked my dad why he still worried about me and why he insisted that I phone home once a week, no matter where I was in the world, and he said, "When you have kids, you'll understand."

When my son Adam was born, I understood very clearly. For no good reason, other than I want to make sure he's safe, I worry about and check on Adam. I never thought that I would care for -- and want to care for -- someone so much.
Christopher Spencer, Ottawa