Craig has three grown-up children from his first marriage, but when his son Dylan was born, fatherhood felt completely new. Both he and his wife Lisa had served in the armed forces, meaning Craig had missed much of his older children’s early years while away on deployments. 

Here's his story in his words.

“With my older children, I was hardly ever there for the baby years. This time I had to learn everything from the start, feeding, bathing, winding, changing nappies. It felt like being a brand-new parent.

I was determined to do it right. When Dylan was born, Lisa returned to work early as the family’s main earner, and I took six months of shared parental leave to be the primary carer. But reality soon hit hard. 

Dylan was a good sleeper at night but hardly napped in the day. Without any breaks, I quickly became exhausted, isolated, and overwhelmed. I thought I’d have more time to myself, but it was constant. I wasn’t eating properly, I was losing weight, I wasn’t sleeping. I probably had postnatal depression. It was awful.

Our journey to parenthood had already been painful. The year before Dylan was born, Lisa miscarried at 11 weeks. It was horrendous seeing her in so much pain and then facing decisions at the hospital, it was really hard.

That loss made Dylan’s safe arrival even more precious, but also added pressure for me to 'hold everything together' once Lisa returned to work. 

Without a wide circle of local friends, most of our connections were still in the military, I felt so alone. That’s when he reached out to Dad Matters after seeing them at a baby fair in Cheltenham.

I was connected with Mark, a Dad Matters Coordinator who offered me one-to-one support. We met in community centres, over coffee at motorway services, or chatted by phone. 

It was about having a safe space, somewhere I could talk openly, where no one judged me. Just someone to listen, to share their own perspective, or to signpost me to help if I needed it.

That simple but powerful support made all the difference. Without Dad Matters, I don’t think I would have got through it. Mark helped me feel less alone. They levelled me out.

As my confidence grew, I began to value the bond I was building with Dylan. Being there from day one has been amazing. It’s something I never had with my older children because of my time in the forces. This time, I’ve been able to experience it all, the milestones, the first steps, the personality coming through. It’s special.

Now, I want to give back. I've spoken with Dad Matters about volunteering, supporting new dads on maternity wards, at stay-and-play sessions, or simply being that listening ear. A lot of dads don’t reach out when they need help. But the support is there, and it makes all the difference. I want to be that person for someone else.

Today, Dylan is a happy, thriving toddler, and I'm proud of how far they’ve all come. Looking back it’s been emotional, but Dad Matters helped me through my darkest times. It taught me it’s okay to ask for help, and I want other dads to know that too.”