I was sat with a friend earlier this week. We’re both dads, same age, similar stage in life.
Both tired in the same way, aching in the same areas, starting to pose similar questions to ourselves. The sort that bubble up in conversation over a pint of Guinness on a Sunday afternoon.

We were talking about what matters most.

Whether the job of a father is to build a life that looks solid from the outside, or one that feels alive from the inside.

Do I choose adventure or security? What kind of safety will my son remember most?

There’s a blueprint people follow.
Work hard.
Save carefully.
Put things aside for later.
Make sure the floor beneath your children never feels like it might give way.

I respect it, and your mum and I are doing exactly that. Because security matters. Safety matters.
You deserve a life where worry doesn’t sit too close to your chest. And in a world that feels increasingly uncertain, it feels right to take precautions now, to protect you.

But, there’s another voice I hear too.

It asks a different question.

What if safety isn’t just about money and plans?
What if it’s also about showing you how to step into the unknown without fear?
How to trust yourself.
How to feel at home in unfamiliar places.

Sometimes choosing adventure means saying no to comfort. Sometimes choosing stability means saying no to possibility. And either way, someone feels the cost.

I don’t think the answer is one or the other. I think it’s about balance and honesty and knowing why you’re choosing what you choose.

I want you to grow up knowing how to save. But I also want you to know how to live.

I want you to feel protected and brave.

Rooted and curious.

So I’m learning as I go. Just like the rest of us. Trying to build a life that gives you both a steady floor and a wide horizon.

If I get it wrong at any stage, I’ll say I’m sorry now.
But if I get it right, I hope you’ll remember that it wasn’t about the money or the miles. It was about being there, together and living in the moment, seeing the world, making memories as a family. 

When you're older, Leo, and you are the one making decisions for you and your family, remember this. 

Build solid ground beneath your feet.

But don’t forget to look up.

Always, 

Daddy xxx