I've also been putting some work into my other blog lately, Beer for Daddy, where I can take a break after my daughter is in bed to try out new beers and put my thoughts down in digital ink. It's a fun project for me, and if you're into unique beer, you should check it out.
But, enough with the excuses, back to Father's Day...
When I was a kid I remember watching my dad mow our lawns from the window of our living room. I used to think that it was such a cool job and I remember feeling proud to watch him do it. (Although I didn't carry the same affinity for the task when I became old enough to push the lawn mower around myself.) Whenever he would look my way, I would wave to him and he would smile and wave back.
This morning, after getting to sleep in until 7:30 (about an hour and a half more than usual), and a nice breakfast that was made with my daughter's "help", I set to my weekly task of mowing the lawns. My daughter asked if she could help me, and I told her that she could help by watching me mow the lawns and cheering me on. She gladly accepted the task.
As I started the lawnmower up in the front yard, my wife pulled a chair up to the front window so my daughter could watch me. Every time I passed by the window and looked in at my daughter, she would give me a big smile and wave at me, and through the window I could see her saying "Hi, Daddy!"
When I moved to the backyard I got the same celebrity treatment, this time with my daughter sitting down on a chair in front of our sliding glass door. She sat there the entire time I was mowing the lawns and every time I looked over at her she would smile and wave to me, and I would wave back. I could feel her love through the window, and it was a great feeling.
This is my third Father's Day as a Dad, and it is my favorite one by far. I spent my first Father's Day with a three-month old sleeping on my chest, and my second with a new toddler in my lap, but this Father's Day I got to hear the words "Happy Father's Day" from my daughter's mouth as well as my new favorite phrase of hers, "Super Daddy".
Before I became a father, I had always dreamed of days like today, when I would be able to not only love my child (soon to be plural) unconditionally, but to have that unconditional love returned to me as well. And, I know that the reason that my daughter can show me the love and respect that she does is because I have done the same for her first, by loving her and respecting her since the day she was born.
I wish for every father out there to be able to experience the same affection for and from their children that I have given to and received from mine, not only today but on all days. As Fathers, it's up to us to show our children what love and respect look like, by showing it to our children first so that they can grow up to do the same for their children.
"Any man can be a father, but it takes a special person to be a dad."
Happy Father's Day!
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