Dads have revealed key moments that shaped their fatherhood journey – from carrying their baby out of the hospital to seeing them grow up and have a child of their own.
A poll of 1,500 fathers found 89 per cent agreed fatherhood is built on lots of small moments rather than major milestones – and they shared some from their personal parenting timelines.
A fifth (21 per cent) cited the moment they held their child in their arms as the time they officially became ‘dad’.
While 39 per cent reminisced about watching their little one fall asleep on their chest and not wanting to move an inch as one of the most cherished moments of fatherhood.
Whereas 28 per cent said it was the first time their child properly smiled at them, making them feel like ‘the only person in the world, which has firmly rooted in their memory.
The research was commissioned by Moonpig, and inspired a partnership with writer Daragh Fleming, who composed an original poem about his own dad to mark Father’s Day 2026.
Darah Fleming said: “Generally, I don't think men are comfortable saying 'I love you' to each other. I know for me it's easier to say it to my mother than my father. And I'm trying to challenge that in my own life.
“Dads may not always say ‘I love you’ out loud, but they show it in a million other ways - these everyday actions inspired my poem.
“The main messages I wanted to convey were the gratitude I feel to my dad and to assure him I never take for granted everything he’s done to help me, no matter how small it might seem.
“Lately, I've been telling my Dad I love him when I see him, and he says it back, and we hug, and it's lovely, important, needed."
‘Lasts’ also ranked highly in most pivotal moments, such as the last night their child spent at home before moving out (14 per cent), last time they stood at the gates for school pickup (10 per cent), and last time they wanted to hold hands (12 per cent).
The results also reflect the times that weren’t all sunshine and rainbows, including when they had to learn how to navigate other children being mean (14 per cent), manage tantrums (22 per cent), or even rush to the hospital when they feared something was wrong (21 per cent).
Later in life, highlights included attending graduations, walking their daughter down the aisle, and giving speeches at their children’s weddings, 21st, and 30th birthdays – as well as the first pub trip when they turned 18.
Moonpig’s own data found 34 per cent of people designing their own Father’s Day card upload a photo, showing kids also rely on visual representations of their bond to express how they feel.
Affection is also easily conveyed through language on this day, as 88 per cent of heartfelt messages sent to dads include the word ‘love’.
According to the OnePoll.com study, this could be reflective of how modern dads feel more comfortable displaying affection (32 per cent), talking about feelings (30 per cent), and taking an equal share of childcare responsibilities (26 per cent) than their own fathers did.
This care and affection often comes through everyday actions, with answers also reflecting how the nature of fatherhood develops over time.
New dads, with little ones aged up to four, show their affection most often through playing games (30 per cent) and helping them get ready in the morning to face the day ahead (24 per cent).
But as children grow up, acts of care shift towards playing sports together (18 per cent), investing in their hobbies and passions (18 per cent), and supporting their creativity (18 per cent).
Once they are officially ‘adults’, dads instead express their love through still being on hand to provide lifts to where they need to go (15 per cent) and always picking up the phone, no matter what (20 per cent), according to the OnePoll.com data.
These sentiments were reflected in what they believe makes a ‘hero’ in everyday family life - doing their best to be present, both emotionally and physically (33 per cent), showing up consistently (34 per cent), and prioritising quality time, regardless of how hectic life gets (30 per cent).
Modern dads also shared how their parenting style differs from their own fathers, as they feel more comfortable displaying affection (32 per cent), talking about feelings (30 per cent), and taking an equal share of childcare responsibilities (26 per cent).
However, 81 per cent agreed moments with their child which turned out to be important later on seemed to pass by in a flash at the time, so 55 per cent turn to old pictures or photo albums and 32 per cent to homemade cards and gifts to keep these memories alive.
Kristof Fahy from Moonpig, which has created two beautiful cards featuring Daragh’s work, that form part of its unique Father’s Day range [LINK] this year, said: “Every dad has a special recipe of moments and qualities that contribute to who he is.
“From the first moment we meet our little bundle of joy, the life of a dad is forever changed and full of ups, downs, and in-betweens that become cherished memories later on.
“As Daragh’s beautiful poem describes it, fatherhood is a ‘masterpiece’ that we all paint in our own unique way.
“Whilst no two fatherhood stories are the same, we wanted to celebrate every kind of dad’s story this year."
TOP 10 KEY MOMENTS DURING THE FATHERHOOD JOURNEY:
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Watching them fall asleep on my chest and not wanting to move an inch
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Helping them to take their first steps independently
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The first proper smile that made me feel like the only person in the world
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Helping them take their first steps and realising they didn’t need me to hold on
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The first time I successfully calmed them with nothing but a cuddle and my voice
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Being the one they ran to when they were hurt
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Sitting up with them when they were poorly
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Hearing them tell me they love me out of the blue
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A time they reached for my hand in public
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The first school drop-off
