In honor of Father's Day, I've decided to write a post for my dad.
About five years ago, I went through a rather rough time in my life. I was sad. I hated my job because I had a horrible boss and a tough group of kids. I started to realize that my relationship with my best friend was disintegrating. And I was single again, after my most recent seven-weeker dumped me, when all I wanted was to be happily married. In an effort to understand my hardships, I turned to some self-help books. Of course, I focused on my lack of a relationship as my source of unhappiness, so the self-help books pointed at my dad as the cause. I clearly remember the day that I sat at lunch telling my mom that I thought I'd been unsuccessful at finding true love because of my dad. I told her that I was the type of person who needed a doting dad. I needed someone to tell me I was beautiful and special every day, and Dad didn't do that.
I've learned that my dad gave me the best possible start at being an incredible wife.
My dad raised an independent woman who didn't need to constant reassurance of a man. I'm not a high-maintenance girl. I like for my husband to tell me how special I am every once in awhile, but the strength of our marriage doesn't rely on it happening every day. I have enough confidence to know that I'm special, whether someone else tells me that or not. My dad taught me that actions speak louder than words. It may not have been part of his daily routine to tell me that I was one of the best things that ever happened to him, but I felt it every single day. Because of my dad, I've learned to tune into the feelings of others. I've learned to feel the things that some people don't feel comfortable saying.
I've learned that my dad gave me the best possible start at being an incredible parent.
My dad raised a woman who will be proud of her future children's accomplishments. Growing up, I saw that many parents expect their children to follow in their footsteps, and can only be proud of them if they do so. My dad's major interests are music and sports. I didn't have much interest in music, and I was always pretty terrible at all sports. My dad didn't care. He was proud of what I did accomplish. He cheered me on during my boring spell bowl competitions. He taught me how to study, which led to the eventual accomplishment of being valedictorian of my high school class. He never missed an opportunity to see a play that I was in. He sang my praises as a waitress and helped me to win best waitress in the county two years in a row. He was my biggest supporter when I started looking for teaching jobs. When I got married (finally!), my dad did everything he could to make it the best day of my life...including surprising me by singing the song for the father-daughter dance, which had always been my dream. The point is...no matter what I did, my dad was there to root me on. He did this because he loved me for me, not for who he could mold me into.
So, thank you, Dad, for helping to make me into the wonderful woman that I am today. I love you. Happy Father's Day!
