On May 4th, 2017 at 5:53 PM, my fiancé and I welcomed our first child to the world, Eliana Rose Hammel. It was a moment that Steph and I will never forget. There are no words that will truly describe the emotions that I felt when I first laid eyes on our beautiful baby girl. One thing is for sure, becoming a father is an opportunity that I will cherish forever and never take for granted.
Though I am still fairly new to this, becoming a father has changed my world. What was once a life I was living fo
r myself (and Steph) is now one I am living for our daughter. I am living to provide Ellie with a life that puts her in the greatest position to grow and develop as a person. I am living to provide our daughter with the proper guidance and life lessons that will lay the foundation for her as a person. I am living to ensure our daughter is provided with an opportunity to live a better life than the one I have. These responsibilities are ones that I do not take lightly.
On this Father’s Day, the only gift I could possibly want is having an opportunity to hold Ellie in my arms (also I wouldn’t pass up some time to sleep). Becoming a father is the greatest gift I have ever received – and one that I will always be thankful for.
Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there — especially my father who has had to put up with me 27 years!
P.S. I would be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to give a special shoutout to Steph who has been an incredible mother!
Harry Hammel
