TO EVERY WOMAN LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE WITH HER PARTNER.

This point of view from a normal dad is very moving, deep, and heartfelt.....

"Men get a hard deal too in life, it just doesn't get highlighted and isn't aired in public. Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it's not there.

Why not ask the man in your life if he's ok, and be prepared to listen.

We miss so much by having to work, our children's first steps, their first words, and all that comes before and after.

Yes we are not always there, we may not think to do the washing up or put our shoes where you've asked us for the 10 thousandth time, but we love you with all our heart, and we would take 10 bullets for our children at any given moment.

We are away all the time to provide for you and the home, the clothes and food you have.

A lot of us hate our jobs and hate dressing in the dark, to then sneak out of our home into the cold (not to wake you all) just to get in our cheap car and drive to our mundane job that doesn't value us, and drives us down and makes us feel not good enough constantly.

We then come home and are told about all the things we could have helped with if we were here.

We understand how hard it is to bring children up when we are not there. Because they are our kids too we know them, and the weekends and holidays we do get at home shows us that.

But please remember what we ARE doing to support you all, that's not fun, not rewarding and that's totally disconnected from the ones we love and think about all the time we are away.

You are our world, you are ALL that matters.

The endless days, overtime & never ending monotony. We are walked over, laughed at and put down. We smile but know our lives as wasting away. We see our children growing up but we're not sure if we really know them. We are desperate to connect with our kids and help to influence their upbringing.

This may come across as us crossly saying "your mother has asked you 3 times, do as your told" or "I'm going to teach you how to climb a tree today"

No we haven't thought it's 6pm and dinner time in 10 minutes and they should be coming in now to wash hands & sit down at the table!

We are thinking we want to instil something of ourselves in the children we love so much it hurts.

Please don't always tell us off and put us down in front of our children. We live for the love in their eyes and are TRUELY doing our best.

Men have so many worries about being a good father, providing for the family, being attractive to our partner and making you feel attractive too.

Being a man is tiring too. We don't get down time either. Promotion doesn't just happen, overtime doesn't do itself, and providing for multiple people isn't taught, and generally we are all alone with our thoughts.

Men don't talk, as we believe no one want to hear it.

How many times have we all heard:

"Man up"

"Don't cry about it"

"Men"

And those quotes go on and on...

We are men, we are strong, capable and dependable, but we need love, support and caring like any human being.

Stop once in a while just to ask.... "Are you ok"?

This was written by my own wonderful son. A real man, full of integrity and love.