Dear Daddy, February 2, 2012
I wrote Mom a letter for a special occasion last year. At the time, you asked me where your letter was. I probably said something about getting you one soon. Truth is, your letter has been harder for some reason to write. It has been harder to put into words what you have meant to me as a dad. Let me explain. We live in a world where it is more common than not to not have a father in your life. When I look at friends I have grown up with, there are more with no dad or a dad they grew up only seeing once a month. In my classroom, 90% of my students live in single parent households and 40% of them have no contact with their father. (See how I used math there?!! Just for you!!!) You expect mothers to care for, love, and protect their children. The instinct is in our DNA. (Science reference!) For some reason, the same is not expected of fathers. Sometimes I listen to other people talk about the relationship they have with their dad and I can’t wrap my head around it. Isn’t it wonderful I can’t understand what they go through? The reason is you. You take your job as Daddy very seriously. I have never doubted your love for me. You have always encouraged me, protected me, and tried your best to help me. There are things I have done I know disappointed you. Yet, even when I knew you were upset, I also knew your love was still there.
Things haven’t always been easy. Remember when I asked you to help me with algebra? You wanted me to understand it so thoroughly; you took me through fifty different steps to get the answer. While I sat in the living room, near tears, you then said those words I will never forget, “or you could do it in two easy steps!” I got up, slammed the book, and never asked you for math help again. I still laugh about that whenever I help Logan with his homework!
You were involved. You drove me to softball, school stuff, and vocal practices. You took me to work with you so I could see what you do. I was “forced” to go to millions of Braves games and I really have lost count of all the UGA football games I attended. Truth is-you probably would have loved to have had a son! You never would have known it though. You wanted to spend time with me. I remember you use to take me out and tell me things like, “any guy lucky enough to go out with you better open the doors for you” or “if a guy doesn’t come to the door to pick you up, you will not be going out with you.” You set the bar for any of my dates. Do you remember when I brought home with the well dressed honor student with the earring? I remember I asked what you thought of him and you said, “He has an earring.” I spent a good thirty minutes going over his good points, awards, the fact he was kind to puppies and nice to his grandma. After I finished, you looked at me and said, “He had an earring!” And that was the end of that. I have never known anyone’s dad to try to get their grandma to alter all their clothes, prom dresses, and bathing suits to include a “modesty panel”. Seriously Dad, we weren’t Amish. You just wanted me to dress like I was.
I remember you tearing up when you first saw me in a wedding dress. When I was pregnant with Tyler, you told me you wanted a grandson. The doctor told me he was a girl and your response was, “We’ll love her anyway.” You were so disappointed. Then, when we went to the neonatal specialist and found out it was actually a boy, I called you at work and told you. You were beyond excited! You said, “It doesn’t matter if he has Down syndrome, it’s a BOY!!!!” Kristi and I joke you wished extra hard for that boy because thirteen years later and you are about to have your fifth grandson. How many granddaughters? Oh, yeah….zero!
Dad, you have no idea how much you mean to me. I love the fact Logan looks just like you. (By the way, if you explained math to him, he would love it!) I love how my impatient dad can turn into the most patient person when he is with Tyler. I love how Joey thinks Pepa is the coolest guy ever!
After all you have given me, how do I repay you? I go and marry a Ga Tech grad! Oh well, at least he doesn’t have an earring! Happy Birthday to the best dad ever! I love you!
Love,
Karyn
(The good daughter! AKA your favorite!)
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