I am awakened by your crying. I jump out of bed while glancing at the clock. 1:47 a.m. it says. I continue quickly down the hallway to your room. I open the door and notice you sitting up in your crib. I can barely make out your face in the dark but I can see the look of fear on your sweet little face.

I bend down and pull you up into my arms. I whisper into your ear, “Daddy’s here, Swee’Pea. It’s okay.” Almost immediately I feel you begin to relax. You stop crying but your breathing is still choppy with an occasionaly hiccup. I can still feel the fear in your little body as you cling to me in the darkness. You seem to respond well to my voice so I continue to talk softly in your ear. “It’s okay Swee’Pea. It’s okay. Daddy loves you. It’s okay.”

You stand in your crib and, for a moment, I think you want me to pick you up. But as I stoop to embrace your scared little body, I sense that you just want a hug. I hold you in the darkness and I can feel your little arms cling to my neck. I kiss your wet cheek and whisper words of calming into your ear. You rest your head on my shoulder and you finally seem to relax.

Sensing that you are ready to go back to sleep, I pick up your stuffed kitty and place it in your arms. You squeeze it tightly and take this as your cue to lie down. I help you lie down and I rub your back while you get comfortable. I whisper my goodnight and I head out the door.

As I close the door, I pause and listen. You are quiet and, I’m sure, asleep once more. I think to myself how great it is to be your Daddy. I think of these one-on-one moments where I know how much of an influence I am in your young life. I think how much I love you. I think of how I love being your Daddy. And I think how I really don’t care that it’s 2:00 a.m. because I will remember this moment for the rest of my life.