The promise of a father's love for daddy's girl

I am my daughter's gatekeeper and my bond with her will have a profound influence over her other relationships

- Michael Han

There was a daily routine I used to do with my middle child. Every morning, I walked her to school. She was nine years old then.

In fact, I walked all my three kids to school. It was my way of bonding with them.

School for my daughter started just before sunrise. The walk lasted no more than 15 minutes. At times, we talked about her classmates, teachers and homework. I shared about my work with her too.

Other times, we just kept our thoughts to ourselves. We filled the silence with me reaching out to carry her bag and holding her hand, and with her making funny faces at me.

When it was time to say our goodbyes at the school's side gate, we had our 12-second ritual. That was how long it took for her to walk by herself and disappear into the school assembly hall.

I held my gaze as she walked with her back to me. I knew that she knew I was still watching her from where I was standing.

Eagerly, I was waiting for that specific response from her. I tried not to blink. I knew it was coming. And right on cue, she turned back to look for me, trying to sort me out from the other parents seeing their children off.