Off it, he is a "private sort of person". That's why telling his story in his new autobiography My Family's Keeper was so hard.

It is no secret that Haddin's daughter Mia has endured a heartbreaking battle with cancer and detailing it in a public forum was never going to be easy.

Pulling out of last year's Lord's Test because Mia was in hospital ultimately brought down the curtain on Haddin's international career, but leaving the Australian set-up wasn't the toughest thing he had to do.

"What was difficult was actually finally putting pen to paper," Haddin said.

"In the end we'd like to use it as a tool for Mia, to explain to her what happened early days of her treatment - because she didn't understand what was going on - so we can use it as a tool for her."

Mia is now cancer free and Haddin has been able to enjoy being a regular dad with his international playing days over and the upcoming Big Bash League season likely to be his last.

The end of the Australian summer could very well be stumps for the 66-Test veteran, and while he will retire a World Cup winner and a member of Australia's historic 5-0 Ashes whitewash of 2013-14, it won't be an overly sad ending.

Haddin is finally able to do all the little things he values so highly as he spends time with wife Karina, daughter Mia, and sons Hugo and Zac.

"I think in the end I had exhausted all options," Haddin said. "I had a blessed career, but it's great now to do more of the normal things - to take the kids to swimming, spend more time at home with the kids' sport, and do the kids' drop off. It's been a blessing to be able to do that."

Haddin is in Canberra to promote his book and the former Test vice-captain has come full circle with his new advisory role with Cricket ACT.

"The [book] tour ends here in Canberra, which is pretty fitting - this is where it all started for me" he said.

"Canberra cricket was really good to me. I had the opportunity to play on the national stage with the Comets and have guys like Mike Veletta and Merv Hughes around.

"I was very blessed in the time that I came through."