Every mum or dad has their own special moment when they realise that they are becoming a parent, fully enveloped in the world of nappies and nurseries. It may be when you feel the first kick, when you see that positive pregnancy test, when you first hold your baby in your arms.
For British diver Tom Daley, that realisation happened was when he heard his son's heart beating for the first time.
The 23-year-old and his husband Dustin Lance Black are expecting their first child together via surrogate. The couple has grown closer because of this life-changing step they are taking, Tom revealed.
“It hit home we’re going to be parents,” Tom told Press Association Sport of when he first heard their little one's heartbeat.
“There’s a living creature we’re going to have to look after and sacrifice everything for. It’s brought Lance and I closer together and it’s just filled with excitement.”
Tom and Lance announced they're becoming fathers on Valentine's Day this year.
They will be celebrating their first wedding anniversary on May 6 and their baby boy is due not long after, at the end of June. Tom is planning on attending the birth in California.
“I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life," Tom says of becoming a father.
The athlete praised the generosity of their surrogate and egg donor, who they met during the process, saying, "They are such kind and caring and lovely people to give other people that aren’t able to have children the chance to be able to have children.
“I’ve always dreamed of having a family, so for me, it takes a special kind of person to want to do that for other people. We feel very lucky to be on the journey that we’re on.”
While the Olympic gold medallist is unsure how his diving career will be affected by his journey into parenthood, he said that the sport will no longer be his number one priority.
Tom is competing at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Australia's Gold Coast after battling a concussion. Reflecting on becoming a dad, he says, "It’s been such a crazy experience. It changes your outlook on life.
“Even on a plane. I’m never scared of flying – and as soon as there was any turbulence I was like ‘oh my God’, because there’s more than my life I have to care about now.
“It made me feel a bit more nervous. It changes your perspective on absolutely everything. It’s all filled with excitement, getting everything ready, feeling like you don’t really know what’s going to happen.
“The fear of what might happen and the excitement. There’s so many emotions that come with being an expectant father.”
We are so thrilled for Tom and Lance as they start on this incredible journey.
