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Being a parent is not for the faint of heart. I may joke about knowing fear, but the fact is, the first time I ever knew real fear was the day Charlotte, my first child, was born. Suddenly there is someone in the world you care about more than anything.

My dad said, 'The thing that I was told that was really helpful was that I mustn't be afraid of the things I was afraid of when I was five years old'. The shock of his childhood had put him in this defensive crouch against the world, and he needed to know that he had a nice wife and kids and it wasn't the same any more.

Having a child, that's always been my biggest fear. I want a child and I fear a child.

Parents learn a lot from their children about coping with life.

I think being a dad is scary. I mean, I'm not that grown-up myself.

But, in fact, there is nothing that can bring you closer to fearlessness about everything else in the world than being a parent - because everyday fears - like not being approved of - pale by comparison to the fears you have about your children.

I was afraid of just about everything in this world, with the possible exception of my mother and I wasn't too sure about her.

I grew up being terrified of my parents, particularly my father figures.

The control and understanding of our personal fears is one of the most important undertakings of our lives.

What I've learned about being a parent is how much you sort of secretly learn from everyone else and how valuable it is.