Super Dad

To all the Dad's out there, today is a day to celebrate dadness. So hug the dads you know and think about the ones you may not be with or haven't met, or who are lost to you forever.

I asked my husband this morning if being a dad was all he thought it would be. A sentimental look passed over his face as he peered into the place filled with memories. "It's just what I expected and more. I wouldn't have changed a thing."

This is from someone who wasn't quite ready to become a dad by adoption until he met his first daughter halfway around the world. After the first few moments together, he wasn't willing to let her feet touch the ground. I have many photos of a small baby strapped on to a 6 foot 2 inch guy who was head and shoulders above the crowd...in so many ways.

His journey to fatherhood was not the one he pictured in his head, but he picked up the ball and ran with it and hasn't stopped. He has only girls, but he loves them fiercely with a pride that just bursts. He has worked with each of them to find their strengths and help them find the delight in doing what they enjoy. He has a very special relationship with each.

Today we also think of the fathers we don't know. Both my girls have birth fathers who are an unknown to them. Part of these men are in my daughters. The question is what part? One must be an athlete, the other have a terrific sense of humor and tons of compassion. It's hard to see where the biology ends and the environment starts. But that's not the point. These girls are who they are and who they are choosing to be because of all the people who have added elements to their lives. While it may not have been the first path chosen, it's the one they are on. So we honor all the parts.

We also are missing some dads today. My husband lost his father over 20 years ago and the loss is still painful. A good friend of ours lost his dad on Friday and today marks a tough first. The first Father's day without his dad and everything is fresh and raw. His dad, Perry, was a tough guy who wanted the best for his kids. He wasn't always able to tell them how proud he was of who they were becoming. For some dads, that's a hard conversation to have. But I knew how proud Perry was because he told me. So I will share that with his kids. If you are a dad, why don't you take a moment to share directly with your kids what makes you proud to be their father. That is what makes a SuperDad.