Reflections on My Daughter Maya's 12th Birthday

So today is a special day—it's my daughter Maya’s 12th birthday. As I reflect on her growing up, I can't help but be engulfed in a mix of emotions. If you’re a parent, you might resonate with these feelings too.

As a parent, watching your children grow up is a bittersweet experience. A part of me wants to keep them young, sweet, and innocent forever. I want to nurture them, protect them, and be needed by them. Yet, another part of me is excited to watch them evolve into remarkable individuals with their own morals, ethics, and independent lives.

Running along, I have my eldest son Leo with me. He’s 13, gearing up to turn 14 in January. Maya just turned 12 today, and my youngest, James, will be 10 at the end of this month. Time flies, doesn’t it? It feels like they were just little kids a moment ago, and now they’re finding their independence swiftly. I notice they need me a bit less with every passing day—whether it's financially or emotionally—even though Leo is yet to get a job!

My wife takes it harder than I do. She cherishes those moments when the kids needed us for everything—clinging to us because they couldn't survive on their own. There’s a joy in being needed, and I remember my late nan telling me how much she loved having me around, even when I became an adult. This sense of purpose and being needed is profound and deeply human.

But as you get older, people around you need you less, and that transition can be tough. You shift from being the pillar of responsibility to needing help from your children eventually. It's a peculiar cycle of life.

I feel particularly touched watching Maya grow up. There’s something unique about being the father of a daughter. As traditional and old-fashioned as it might sound, I’ve always had this protective feeling towards her. She’s evolving from the little girl I used to carry around to an independent young woman who doesn’t need her dad’s soft, nurturing side as much anymore.

My boys, on the other hand, show their love in rough and tumble ways. A punch in the gut from Leo might be his way of saying, “I love you, Dad.” Despite the changing dynamics, deep affection remains. Parenting advice has often reminded me to cherish every moment with my kids because time flies. When they were babies, sleepless nights made that hard to believe, but now I see the truth in those words.

Reflecting on these changes, I realise the importance of adapting as a parent. Your children will always need you, just in different ways. I need them too, in various ways as their needs evolve.

Life is a journey, not a destination. It’s about living in the moment, creating and cherishing memories, and appreciating relationships, love, kindness, and experiences.

That’s why I try to create the best experiences with my children now—moments that will live with us forever. These experiences strengthen our relationships and contribute to an everlasting legacy.

If you believe in my mission to save the lives of children by attempting the ultimate ultra-marathon of run vlogging over consecutive days around the world barefoot, please do subscribe, share, like, and comment. The more people we reach, the more money we raise, and the more children’s lives we save. This mission is close to my heart because, as a dad, I understand how vulnerable children can be.

Thank you for your support. Stay positive, stay happy, and cherish every moment you have with your loved ones.

Kevin Brittain