Fathers / Dads / Daddies

I am one of the luckiest 44 year olds around.  I can say that I still have my Dad.  My father is in his early 80s - so I take each day as a gift. I'm even luckier that my Dad (and Mom too) live within 5 minutes walking distance.

I am the baby of the family and I am the proverbial baby of the family.  I hold that title proudly I might add too!  I have two older brothers and one older sister.  My parents love us all equally, but I am probably the closest to them.  I lived at home the longest and I just really got to know them.  Both my Mom and Dad are my best friends (and my husband is too).  I know my parents would do anything for me and I would for them.

My Dad has always been an exceptional person not to mention an exceptional Father.  His wife, kids and grandchildren mean the world to him.

My Dad and I before my wedding

 8/29/03

When I was a young child my Dad was like "God".  I know that sounds sort of sacrilegious, but as a child you tend to do that ... put special people on a pedestal.  He was (still is) a strong, confident, helpful, caring and loving person.  He is the right mix of strength and tenderness.  I knew as a child not to "cross" him because the punishment might be less then pleasant (like punishments should be) but I knew that I could get a hug from him when I needed one.  My Dad was always approachable, even when he was busy working from home or working on a home improvement project.  He never told us to "bug-off".  He stopped what he was doing and gave us
his undivided attention.  He always had a way of showing you by his actions that he loved you and you were special to him.

My Dad had a rough childhood, he lost his Mom when he was about 5 years old.  I couldn't even imagine growing up without a Mom.  His Dad was an awesome man too.  I think because of my Grandpa, my Dad turned out to be a good man.  I know my Grandpa was always proud of my Dad and I'm sure he's up in heaven still smiling down on his son.  I think because of all the unpleasant things he came across in his childhood and all the passing around from relative to relative, my Dad grew to appreciate what "family" is and means.  He knew early on that working hard, having a moral compass, having faith in God and loving his wife and kids was the key to success and has lived his life that way.

My parents have been married 57 years.  Just amazing!  They stayed together this long because they knew that being "partners" on the same team was / is the key to a successful marriage.  My Dad respects my Mom and truly loves her like no one else.  Even today you can see the love in his eyes when he looks at my Mom.  My Mom was quite ill about 8 months ago.  My father was so worried.  After she started to feel better, he would never let her out of his sight.  He was like the gatekeeper.  If I called their house,  and my father answered, I rarely was able to chat with my Mom.  And I wasn't even allowed to think of "kidnapping" her to go out with me and the kids just to get her out of the house.  He was scared and I knew it.  I thought it was so sweet to witness that.  It made my Dad that much more human to see that side of him.

My Dad has a prayerful side.  He has a faith in God that is quietly strong.  I admire this side of him.

My Dad is the perfect image of a "man".  I use to size up all my potential "husbands" to my Dad.  Not many made the cut.  I can only think of two gentlemen that did and one of them is my husband.   It is very true that a lot of times a girl looks at potential husbands with her own Dad in mind.  If you have a great Dad, you want your husband to have the same characteristics.

My husband managed to size up quite well in the "perfect image of a Dad" category.  From day one, I knew he fit well in my family.  When I had a brother pull me aside the first time he met my husband and tell me "Col, he's a keeper," without me even asking was all I needed to hear to validate what I was already thinking!  Trust me, my brother was not one for sharing such information.  My brother saw how well my husband was with his children and that was enough for him to proclaim his thumbs up!

My husband puts up with a lot from me.  I'm not the easiest person to live with.  I'm also not one that keeps her thoughts to herself very well.  I know my husband loves me and I love him - unconditionally.  If it wasn't unconditional, he'd probably would have left me already.

My husband and kids.
Photograph by Jenny Gildea Photography

As a Dad, my husband is exceptionally good!  I don't know many Dad's that adjust their work schedule to make their children's doctor's appointments or to be there at special "school" occasions.  My husband will skip golfing on Saturday mornings or Friday night happy hours with friends so he can spend it with the kids and me.  He puts his kids and me first.  He loves being a Dad and the kids adore him.  My husband wants the best for his kids and will make sacrifices so his children can have the best educations and medical care they need.  He's also really good with making sure we have family time and family vacations.

I found a great guy to be my children's Father.  I truly believe that Fatherhood (and Motherhood) are learned jobs.  So when you have good role models, you can truly be good parents.  Fortunately, both my husband and I have great role models in our parents.  I hope someday my kids will be able to say the same thing about their parents!

So on Sunday, Father's Day - I salute the two great guys in my life!  My Dad and my Husband!  Thanks for being exceptional men in mine and the kids lives!

Love you!

Colleen