I wonder why there is a day set aside to honor dads. Maybe it's for those who seek reconciliation, or to give a resounding "Thanks, Dad" for years of patience and support. With my son almost 2 and 1/2 years old, I haven't been doing the dad thing all that long. I love him very much, and he demonstrates myriad ways that he loves me, too. But it will take lots more time before I deserve a special day just because I'm a father.
There have been trying times, to be sure. But I imagine the "best" is yet to come on that front (I was a teen-age boy once). For now, the majority of days are as special or moreso than any Hallmark holiday could make them. It's like every day is Father's Day. I might not get a physical gift, but the daily gifts are much better anyway.
I know in my heart that I'd love a daughter as much as my son, but in different ways. All kids have a capacity for good times, but as I've written before and truly believe, boys are hard-wired for fun – sometimes at the expense of sanity or some broken bones.
A recent example that comes to mind is our past weekend of gettingoutoftown-ness. We stopped at a large antiques store on the way home – more of an adventure with toddler in tow – to look for a new-to-us, old-to-the-world kitchen table. Large floor fans were blowing air around, and the Cutlet noticed something only a small boy would probably see: a price tag was spinning quickly, blown by the fans, near the floor. He bent down to look at it and started to laugh. Pure fun can be found in the strangest places.
The photo above is a few months old, but it shows how something as simple as slick plastic and gravity can put a smile on the kid's face. He seeks fun everywhere and I need to strive for a lot more of that. After doing some grocery shopping yesterday, I decided to drive up the grassy hill that runs behind my house rather than take the road home. It was a "whoppeeee" moment I will soon share with whomever is dumb enough to ride with me.
The Cutlet also loves anything on wheels, something I'd like to say comes from me but is a product of unadulterated boyness. I hope to pass on my love of bicycling and – sans wheels – boating and camping when he gets a little older. When it's time to teach him how to drive, I'll stick to the pavement. Promise.
I want him to see the respect and love I have for his mother, so that he will treat deserving women the same way. I want him to be a man rather than simply be a male – it's not aggression that makes the difference; it's a lot more complicated than that (may not take a village, but will take years for him to become one).
Across the country, and possibly the world, on Sunday fathers will be opening various gifts – tools, ties and handmade trinkets. What do I want for Father's Day? I'd like to honor my father for his patience, love and long-suffering at the hands of ... well, mostly my sister, because I was the "good" older child, of course. And I'd like to spend precious quality time with my family and the one – my son – who made me a dad.
I remember my wife's doctor shortly before the Cutlet was born (Dec. 26, 2002). He said that anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a Daddy. I hope I can live up to that title.
To fellow Daddies, have a good one. Every day.
Hey, Happy Father's Day!! Hope you and the Cutlet have a good one together.
Happy Father's Day
To your comments on my blog:
Building and buying a home in Bend is the SAME DAMN PRICE! You can either get a 1300 sq ft 10 year old home for $210K or buy a brand new home, 1300 sq ft for $210K.
If we don't buy now, starter homes are projected to be $300K next year. Our prices are the highest in the state and so we need to jump now or rent forever or move back to the midwest where prices are reasonable. It's a good chance our new home will go up 90K in the first year.
Which would you choose? Brand new or old?
I think the answer is obvious.
(ps .. giving you a hard time)
Happy Father's Day!!!
I'm flying to RI in an hour to spend the holiday with my dad and my brother (who recently became a father).
Have a memorable weekend. :)
it sounds to me like you are already living up to the title pretty well!
Have a great fathers day!
I may sound a bit selfish but I have only 2 wishes for this Father's Day. 1) I would like to spend time with my own father.
2) I would like to spend time with my 3 daughters.
Unfortunately, neither one will come true this year because I am still deployed to the Persian Gulf. I know my father understands why I can't be there and I hope one day when my girls are older they, too, will understand why Daddy wasn't around very much when they were young.
So, to you, T, and to all fathers out there, have a blessed and happy Father's Day this weekend.
The Cutlet is a cutie pie.
Happy Father's Day!
Yeah, just you wait until you have to sort out all his mischievousness - my sons have reached exactly that age. Clogged all the boys toilets in their school last Friday. Hurray...