Father's Day: From a Father's Perspective

I have been a father for 33 years now and I still have a child that is only 9 years old.

Throughout those thirty-three years, I have been: an unwed, expectant father; a married father; a divorced father; a divorced father with custody; a remarried father; an adoptive father; and, now, a grandfather.

When I first started my journey as a father, I was usually the youngest Dad at all the school events, activities and social settings.  Now, I am usually the oldest.

In my role as Dad, I have been: a T-Ball coach; a soccer coach; a basketball coach; a wrestling coach; and, a baseball coach.  I have also participated in Gymboree’s; swim classes; arts and crafts; rock wall climbing; Indian Guides (when it was still called Indian Guides); Adventure Guides (which it is now called today due to some perverse idea of political correctness); and even, ballet classes with my daughter ending up with a rather comical ballet performance with about five other Dad’s at her recital.

I have: attended graduations from Kindergarten; High Schools; Colleges; and Boot Camp.  I have held hands in the doctor’s office; dentist chair; hospital; and, emergency rooms.  I have sat in Principal’s offices; Police Stations and Recruiting Stations.

I have had the privilege of working with my children and having my children working for me.

I have: laughed; cried; worried; been surprised – both happily and not so much; felt proud; felt disappointed; yelled – sometimes at, and sometimes for; disciplined – sometimes for good reason and sometimes unnecessarily; kissed boo-boos, and sometimes caused them – I should have held onto the bike a little bit longer; made memories; and, after thirty-three years, forgotten a few.

And, over the past few years, I have been able to visit my children (the older ones) in their homes in New Jersey; Florida and Hawaii.  And, I have been able to hold their children (well, most of them, I still have the twins to visit!).

In short, like I said at the beginning – I am a Dad.

This Sunday is Father’s Day.  One day set aside each year to honor our Dads.  Phooey and unnecessary! 

My children honor me every day.  They honor me by how they live their lives.  They honor me with the choices they make – good and bad – and by the way they approach life.  Each and every day I am their father, is an honor.

Sure, it is nice to get a phone call – remember, NJ, FL and HI (now MD) – and, I guess, I can always use a new tie; but one day set aside for Dad is pretty redundant in my mind.  I get the joy and satisfaction of wearing that label every day – and have done so proudly for thirty three years.

Enjoy your Father’s Day – be you the Dad or the one’s celebrating Dad – but know that really, we Dads feel celebrated every day from the first time we held you in our unsure arms – after Mom did all the hard work – until our last breaths.

And, what makes me love being a Dad so much?   Because it is one way I have to pay forward what my Father did for me, may he rest in peace.

Happy Father’s Day!