Happy Father's Day to all my parenting brethren!!!
This being my first Father's Day, I'm understandably experiencing a slight case of sappiness. For those of you who came here expecting some of my occasional snarkiness, I'm afraid that I'm going to disappoint today. You see, on Friday, the awesome women at Peanut's daycare gave me a card when I came to pick up my lovely 8-month old daughter after work. They had fingerpainted my daughter's handprints all over a large piece of paper. On the top of the card, they wrote "Happy Father's Day." But on the bottom, they had written "These little hands hold all the love in the world for you." Oh man, I know my little baby didn't write out the card but I was so touched that I swear my eyes practically welled with tears. (I know, fatherhood has really fucking softened me up. But you knew this about me already, remember?)
So like I was saying, this is my first Father's Day. And whereas in the past, the day was merely a reason for me to buy my pops a steak dinner and give him a new putter or golf shirt, things are completely different today. Because although it may be selfish, today is the day that I celebrate how much I absolutely love being a father. I always thought that I would love having a kid and I've always loved being around children. But now, it's different. Fatherhood has changed me. I never realized that I had the capacity to love someone in the way that I love my daughter. I never knew that, in one singular moment, my entire life's priorities could change so quickly. I never imagined that being a father would become, by far, the most important aspect of my life. I never realized the amount of joy that I would get from one child's smile.
But most importantly, I'm proud of the fact that I think I'm turning into the father that I've always wanted to be. As regular readers of this blog know, I've always had a somewhat rocky relationship with my own father. There's a cultural/generational/personality gap that's made it tough to have the kind of relationship that I'd always hoped we'd have. After years of tumult, we've finally learned to coexist in a somewhat copacetic manner. But as my shrink says, the greatest fathers are usually those that had bad role models. Well, I hope so. Because I expect greater things out of my relationship with my daughter. And I know it all starts with me. I don't take fatherhood lightly. I think about it quite a bit. I read about it a lot. And I question myself at every step of the journey. Aside from being quite introspective about it, I'm always actively seeking out other people's advice. That's part of the reason for this blog. I like throwing out topics that are on my mind and getting some feedback from various perspectives.
Anyway...they say that "men who change diapers change the world." And while I'm pretty sure that a woman came up with that phrase, I do think there's a modicum of truth in it. Personally, I think it's a pretty interesting time to be a father now. I really dig the idea that we're more involved with our kids than previous generations of fathers seemed to have been. It's not always easy but, like they say, few things in life that are worth having come easy.
So to all my fellow dads out there? This Bud's for you. Enjoy the cheesy ties and giant bottles of cologne. Revel in the fingerpaint drawings, the homemade ashtrays and the handmade pencil holders. And while you may hear it from your kids. You may even hear it from your wives. Let me be the first guy to say to you...
Happy Father's Day! (Pretty fucking cool, isn't it?)
Happy First Father's Day, honey! You don't need me to tell you what an awesome father you are because the Peanut is just proof enough. You're an inspiration for me to be the best mom I can be. We love you!
Happy Father's Day everyone!
Posted by: BossLady | June 19, 2005 at 11:33 AM
Happy Father's Day MetroDad! I'm a week into fatherhood and loving every minute of it! As I type, i have a baby boy on my belly. A pretty nice gift in itself.
Posted by: Matthew | June 19, 2005 at 12:14 PM
Happy Father's Day to all!
I never thought that it would mean as much to me as it does but when I woke up this morning and saw my wife walking in with our daughter who had a card in her hand I knew that Father's Day was more than I ever imagined. It was very weird to hear my mom phone and wish me a Happy Father's Day. Me? I'm a father? I'm a father! Amazing!!!
Posted by: Caius | June 19, 2005 at 12:52 PM
Happy Father's Day, MD! Have a GREAT time being pampered!
Posted by: Queen of Ass | June 19, 2005 at 01:58 PM
Happy First Father's Day Metro Dad! Hope it's a beautiful day for you!!!
Posted by: kristie | June 19, 2005 at 05:02 PM
Happy Father's Day to one awesome dad. Many more happy ones to look forward to, I'm sure.
Posted by: panthergirl | June 19, 2005 at 08:12 PM
I don't know whether you're turning into the dad you'd always hoped to be. But as a man with lots of parenting experience, I think you're one hell of a great dad. You're so much more self-aware of a father than I was when I had my first child. A lot of guys don't "get it" at first. Or it takes them awhile. I'm pretty impressed that you seem to be doing the right things, thinking the right things and asking the right questions. I think you're destined for a spot in the Hall of Fame. You've got my write-in vote. Happy Father's Day!
Posted by: Brent | June 19, 2005 at 08:45 PM
Happy Father's Day dude...hope all is well. Thanks for the posts lately. Been meaning to send an email your way....Hope all is well with the fam...the bean.
Take care.
David
Posted by: David | June 19, 2005 at 10:47 PM
Happy Father's Day to you too. My first as well. Bagels, lox and a lot of baby-proofing around the house now that Boy Twin crawls like a demon. I agree with everything you've written. My dad had a lot of good intentions, and no shortage of love and pride, but he wasn't around a whole lot. I think he did the best with what he had. I'm sure my kids will say the same of me some day.
Posted by: not-for-profit-dad | June 19, 2005 at 11:18 PM
How'd you know I got a homemade pencil holder?
Posted by: Larry | June 20, 2005 at 08:48 AM
Glad you had good Fathers Day. It rocks to get those cheesy little day care gifts.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 20, 2005 at 02:16 PM
A very happy Father's Day to you. I'm not a dad but I'm married to the world's greatest one (in my eyes) and he'd probably tell you, that it just gets better every year.
Posted by: Kathy | June 20, 2005 at 05:12 PM
Hey, Happy Late Father's Day!
You bitch, you moan, you worry, you teach, you love and you can't remember life without the little maggots that make you a Father. Oh wait, yes I can remember. *sigh* They better put me in a nice nursing home when the time comes.
Posted by: ozone ferd | June 20, 2005 at 05:29 PM
Happy Father's Day.
Posted by: Pope Benedict XVI | June 20, 2005 at 09:26 PM
G'day,
Thought I would pop in and say hi. Got your address from amateur dad.
It's nice to see other dad's getting into the whole 'father' thing.
Drop in and say g'day. Will be visiting your blog more often.
Pete
http://chocolatemakesitbetter.blogspot.com
Posted by: Peter | June 23, 2005 at 08:43 AM
G'day,
Thought I would pop in and say hi. Got your address from amateur dad.
It's nice to see other dad's getting into the whole 'father' thing.
Drop in and say g'day. Will be visiting your blog more often.
Pete
http://chocolatemakesitbetter.blogspot.com
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Posted by: Adfcvkdg | August 28, 2008 at 06:37 AM
If it weren't for Dave Miller, I wouldn't have a dad My bicoigloal father split when I was just a baby. I've never known him. My mother remarried and this man has been my dad ever since.He has emotionally supported me, morally supported me, and financially supported me. He instilled hard work and ethics in me at a very young age. He also taught me the importance of school. Once I turned 18, I was forced by law to use my bicoigloal father's last name but he will never be my dad. As I graduate with my first college degree next Friday, I have hyphened my last name on my diploma to show my dad that it was HIM that taught me that hard work and determination will pay off.I remind him every father's day that it takes a true man to raise another man's child as his own. And THAT is my favorite memory of my dad.
Posted by: Berenice | July 04, 2012 at 06:36 PM
My favorite momirees have been the time spent in the KITCHEN with my dad. He taught me all of his tricks of the trade from baking the fluffiest rolls to cooking a juicy pot roast.I never realized until I was older (and married) how incredibly rare it is to find a man who can not just cook, but cook delicious food. Because of him My pride and joy is cooking and something I am known for.How many women can say, I'm the cook I am today because of my DAD!! ?Thanks dad!
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