Being Dad

It seems odd to write an editorial on Fathers never having been one myself, but this time of year reminds me just how lucky I am each and every day to have a husband that is such a great Father to our Daughter as well as fantastic man all round.

As a young child, i wasn’t as fortunate to have the type of Father like my Husband. Although my older Sister and i were lucky enough to have a Step-Father who truly embraced this role in our lives. If you are a Step-Father, you fulfill a huge role that is so important to a young child. You literally step into the role of: Father, parent, discipliner and supporter. My older Sister and I were lucky enough to have such a person in our lives. He was a fire fighter in Alberta Canada. He swept my Mother off her feet. He helped create the type of childhood for us that was filled with memories and family time. Long road trips across country with our “Pop” were magical. He’s the type who would drive non-stop from Edmonton to Vancouver (about a 14-16 hour drive) just to maximize our actual vacation time! Often, I would be his co-pilot once my Mother and Sister had fallen asleep. It was exhilarating to watch the road race past at night with my “Pop” – soaking it all in and making small talk along the way. Those are moments that never leave you and put a smile on your face when reminiscing about them years later. By the time my younger Sister was born, our “Pop” had officially adopted us.  We were all one family. When our little Sister was deemed old enough to travel, we built even more family memories. Remembering her portable (seatbelt-less!) playpen in the back of our ’70’s van and witnessing her stubbornness in avoiding sleep at such a young age still makes me laugh.  One particularly memorable moment was watching her wobble back and forth crying with tears in her eyes until she could no longer hold herself up.  All the while our “Pop” patiently driving through the Rockies without missing a beat. (She eventually toppled over into a deep sleep.)

“Pop” was our Hero, our Father and most of all our leader. This Father’s Day reminds me of those times past as well as the time we now spend creating our own family memories with our Daughter. It’s easy to see the impact these family holidays have on us all, especially her. There is nothing more special than the bond that Fathers and Daughters share and how that helps to form the person they eventually become.

Today, Father does know best as we follow his lead and let this day honor him! So Happy Father’s Day to all those who support their children in each and every way they can!