Becoming a dad softens up everyone, even nasty Simon

Love him or loathe him, the sight of X Factor judge Simon Cowell so tenderly cradling his newborn baby last week was a game changer.

The 54-year-old first-time dad cried in the delivery room when he held his son. “I’ve waited all my life for you,” he said, looking into his baby’s face for the first time.

This from the man who can reduce contestants on the show to gibbering wrecks with his hard-hitting comments.

But becoming a dad does things to a man.

Suddenly, after months of anticipation, this little scrap of humanity is there, a living, breathing being who will change your life forever.

Women have nine months experience of changing biologically, day by day. They see and feel how their bodies grow rounder and softer to keep the baby nourished and safe in the womb.

They feel the butterfly kicks and flutters grow stronger and they begin to bond with the new life growing inside.

But it’s harder for men to grasp the reality of a warm, wriggling baby who is suddenly there, alive and present in your arms, demanding your attention, turning your family twosome into a threesome, making you a daddy.

It’s awesome and it’s scary. I suspect men think am I up to it? Aren’t fathers supposed to be serious, responsible, grown-ups? Am I ready for that?

I’ve watched my three sons, who all enjoyed a bit of laddish wildness in their time, turn from boys to men when a tiny person arrived on the scene.

Suddenly, their wishes didn’t come first. They couldn’t party all night because babies don’t rate sleeping late in the morning as an option.

They couldn’t watch sport all day on TV because babies get bored with that.

Babies need walks in the park and regular routines. Those designer trainers they coveted? Sorry, baby needs nappies/clothes/a pram/cot or car seat.

Everything changes, but new dads wouldn’t have it any other way. Because they’ve fallen in love.

Day by day, as this little baby learns to grasp your finger, recognise your face, smile, melt your heart with one word dada you understand that you can do this and that you’ll do it forever.

Simon Cowell has waited a long time to become a father.

Maybe he never knew it was what he wanted. Maybe he hadn’t met the right woman, until Lauren came along.

But magically, it has happened. Eric has arrived to turn his world around.

On Valentine’s Day the man who has made millions as a music mogul found his most important role yet he’s the daddy.