Did you ever imagine, Dad?

picture by Laurence Jarrett-Kerr

Did you ever imagine, when sat in the park drinking cider with the boys, that one day you’d be a Dad?

Did you ever imagine, whilst working on irrigation projects in Kenya, that one day you’d bring a wife here, and then conceive twin daughters?

And then have two more daughters?

And take them all back to Africa a few years later?

Did you ever imagine, whilst DJ-ing at youth club discos in Fareham that you’d one day have four daughters who love love love to dance?

Did you ever imagine, when you were captain of the hockey team at school, that you’d spend hours teaching a mini team of your own how to throw, and catch, and cycle, and swim?

Did you ever imagine, whilst camping with your mum and dad, that you’d introduce a wife and children to caravans and tents and cliff-side walks?

Did you ever imagine, when studying engineering that you’d spend years working as an engineer, and come home every day to five women who greet you with hugs at the door, and eat dinner with you, and talk about every feminine and embarrassing topic under the sun in front of you?!

Did you ever imagine, when it was just you and a motorbike, that one day you’d drive all around the country taking daughters to university and airports and bringing them home again and helping with house moves and weddings and visiting and cheering and supporting?

Did you imagine how complicated and different and independent and strong and fragile and brave and scared and how very much in need of a good Dad four sisters could be?

And did you ever imagine

and do you know

how much love and pride 

four daughters could have

and do have

For you?