I want to be a dad, so I took this test to see if I'm ready

"Did I pass or fail? You be the judge."

I desperately want to become a dad, but I’m single and in my late thirties, which means the circle of opportunity is shrinking, or has closed over completely – according to some of my dad-mates.

Maybe they’re right, but I’m not raising the white flag just yet.

My pursuit of fatherhood, and becoming a good one at that, continues - although judging by a recent babysitting effort, I’ve still got a lot to learn.

Or maybe you can be the judge of that?

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The Single Man Dad Test

My mum recently had a birthday lunch to attend that clashed with looking after her youngest grandson – my nephew – and needed me to tag in.

My nephew's name is Ace and he's four years old.

Of course, I said 'yes' to looking after Ace because I wanted to help my mum, but also because it presented the opportunity for me to take on...

The Single Man Dad Test.

 It's a test I made-up that seeks your opinion on how I went looking after Ace, and whether you think I have what it takes to become a good dad.

Here’s how the day/test unfolded.

Matt doing the Single Man Dad Test with Ace. Image: supplied

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11am: We took Ace’s toy speedboat down to the beach.

The boat got pummeled by waves, and in trying to get it out on to gentler seas, I fell into the water. Not the best of starts. Ace thought it was hilarious though.

11.30am: We made sandcastles.

Ace came running back from the highest part of the foreshore as if he'd just discovered gold.

“I’ve just discovered gold!" he yelled. "Gold sand. We need to put some gold sand on the castle to decorate it."

It was just normal soft sand, but of course I played along. Bonus points for not giving him a science lesson?

12.30pm: We get back to my mum's house

It was straight to the backyard for a game of soccer. By game’s end, Ace led 28 goals to nil, largely because he was keeping score, and because my target was the washing basket impossibly placed under a low-hanging tree.

1.30pm: Lunch = Happy Meal.

Bonus 1000 points.

2pm: Bike riding

At the front of the house, he spotted the postman heading our way, and reacted with the level of excitement I thought only came out at the sight of Santa Clause.

I lifted him up on to the low front brick fence, and he waited to see if the postman had anything for his Nanna’s letterbox.

"A nursing book! It's a nursing book, Matt."

It was the latest edition of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation magazine – my mum is a nurse. Ace said thanks to Postman Carl, and had a photo with him... while holding the nursing book.

Ace had a great day, but Matt is doubting himself. Image: supplied

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TikTok and ice cream

3pm: Ice cream.

It was time for an afternoon treat, so we went inside for an ice-cream. One of us might have enjoyed it more than the other.

3:05pm: TikTok

We didn't post the clip, but used an hilarious filter (you can see it above).

4.30pm: His mum arrived.

My early reflections were that I did a pretty good job. I canvassed fun/sporty/thinking activities in good balance.

Although, the more I thought about it, the more I questioned whether I too often fell into the trap of ‘fun uncle Matt,’ and whether a good dad would have made the same decisions.

Were the Happy Meal and ice-cream options a good dad would have gone with? Not healthy, but perhaps a fair reward for Ace being so active all day, and not sitting on screens.

Was the use of TikTok also a poor choice? Despite the happiness it brought, four years of age is far too young to be playing with social media.

Should I have let him win soccer so easily? Was their greater worth in Ace learning about losing and disappointment, as opposed to winning and joy?

On all of these, and whether I passed or failed the overall test, I’m still not sure.

What do you think? 7/10?

Originally published as I want to be a dad, so I took this test to see if I'm ready