Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a dad. ~Author Unknown

Several years ago, my dad handed me and my siblings a newspaper on Father's Day.  "This is what I want too", he said.  As the four of us (myself, my brother and 2 sisters) gathered around the folded up Waterloo Chronicle, we all got teary eyed.  When we were done reading, we didn't say anything, we just hugged him.  Tightly.  Here is a excerpt from that paper:

Wednesday, June, 16, 2010 - What I really want for Father’s Day

...What do I want for Father’s day?

I want to know we did right by you. I know we made mistakes. I want to know they didn’t impact you forever.

I want to know you’re safe and you’re happy. That’s our job as parents when you’re at home. It doesn’t end when you leave.

I try not to inject myself too much into your lives.

You are — or at least should be if we did everything properly — independent women.

But I want to know if what we think, feel or say still means something to you.

Maybe it won’t change your mind about a decision, but perhaps something we say still resonates — and at the very least gives you pause to think.

I respect your right to make your own decision. But I hope you can still benefit from our experience.

What I want more than anything else is to know you’re still good with being my daughter.

I hope this relationship, while it will and should change, still means something important to you.

It’s the kind of gift you can give me all year long.

••• Brian Bourke

My response (and I think I speak for all of us): They don't.  I am.  You don't.  I am (I think so).  It does.  It does. I do.  I definitely am. It really, really does, Dad!

 

To see the full article, please visit http://www.waterloochronicle.ca/opinion/what-i-really-want-for-father%E2%80%99s-day/