Charlie grinned at him. "Yeah, being a Dad is a very steep learning curve," he said. "Oh dear - sand in eyes!"
Nia was whimpering and rubbing her face with her hands so he got up and went across to kneel beside her. "No, sweetie, don't rub it. Aww yes, sore!"
He gave her a cuddle and smiled at the other child. "Odd isn't it," he said to Joe, "how such small people can get to be some big - and so formidable, like Deacon or your brother. Both of them were this size once and needed cuddles and noses wiped." He plied a tissue carefully.