Former policeman embraces role of stay-at-home dad after son's diagnosis

When he retired from the police force after 22 years, Peter Smart thought he'd never find another career he'd feel passionate about.

However, he's since found himself in what he describes as the best job in the world — and it's one that comes with a very cute 'boss'.

Since he and his wife Erin welcomed their first child, Edward, in October 2017, Peter has been a stay-at-home father and says he "wouldn't change it for anything".

"I think I'm very fortunate to be able to stay at home and go through his little life journey," the Sydney dad tells 9Honey.

Playgroups and 'coffee dates' with fellow retired colleagues aside, Peter's time is dedicated to helping his almost two-year-old son develop and adjust to life with hearing loss.

Days after his birth, doctors diagnosed Edward with moderate hearing loss in both ears. As first-time parents, it was big news for Peter and Erin to digest.

"I was devastated inside, but I wasn't going to show it. For me, it's one of those things — life's unfair and you deal with it the best you can," he recalls.

Peter says the diagnosis was tougher on Erin.

"Try to convince any mother [whose] child is born with an issue that it's not their fault. I think to this day she still blames herself," he says.

The couple was relieved when doctors confirmed Eddie's hearing loss was not severe enough to require a Cochlear implant.

The little boy now wears hearing aids that are tuned to his hearing loss in each ear.

"He still hears a fair bit without them in. What he struggles with are the softer sounds in speech; he hears parts of words, but not all of them," Peter explains.

"I speak pretty quickly, so I've had to concentrate on slowing down and enunciating my words."

This is something Peter has been learning more about through his weekly visits to The Shepherd Centre, a charity for deaf and hearing impaired children, with Eddie.

The organisation provides more than 500 families with assistance in developing their child's spoken language.

While his son enjoys playgroup and activities at The Shepherd Centre, Peter and fellow parents receive support, education and guidance in various forms.

"It almost turns into a second extended family. It's nice to know you're not by yourself," he says.

"It's been a silver lining on a dark cloud."

At the moment, the proud dad is focused on reading plenty of books to Eddie, having learned of the link between this practice and a child's language abilities.

"If we don't read a dozen to 15 books a day I'd be surprised," he laughs.

It's Peter's commitment to his little boy's development that earned him the title of The Shepherd Centre's 2019 Community Father of the Year last week.

Erin — who balances her job at a car leasing company with her online design business — had secretly nominated her husband for the award, which was presented ahead of Father's Day.

"She likes these little surprises ... I don't like being in the limelight, so she'll pay for this one!" he laughs.

The couple were planning to celebrate the award with dinner, but Peter says ultimately being Eddie's dad is the best reward he could ask for.

"He's a cool kid. I really got lucky, I don't know how else to put it," he says.

"A new word comes out of his mouth and it's a great feeling, to watch him grow. I'll hang onto it as long as I can."