A Dad is Forever

Maybe because Father’s Day has arrived I internalized the day in my mind. Don’t dads think about this day? This is my day and their day. I’ve got two sons and they call me "dad" and I’m good with it because I am their dad, their father, their pop, and their old man. My older son calls me dad and I generally think he wants something from me, and it’s usually money, but could be that he wants to have his friends stay overnight at our house, or he’d like to remind me that he’s of driving age. My younger son calls me dad and I think it’s a conditioned reflex in addressing me. He’s heard it so often from his older brother that I can’t imagine he puts anything into it beyond just saying dad. Did I earn the honor of being their dad because I don’t believe a man should be this dad unless he has earned the designation…and what qualifies him to be dad? I’d say a dad is someone that is around them, answering their questions, spending time playing with them, helping them with homework, giving insight into dating or relationships or how to do something that’s important at the moment. Because I have boys, most of these things are geared toward them, but dads are just as important for their daughters. They learn a lot about guys through their dad…and that’s a great thing. Dad can show his daughter she deserves respect both mentally and physically. He can be there to help with homework, to make sure the boy she dates will get her home on time, to play ball with her, to give her jobs to do around the house and outside the house. I read that too many dads are not there for their kids, maybe the dads are too busy at work or the parents are divorced and the dad isn’t around, maybe the dad thinks it doesn’t matter how much time or energy he gives to his kids. But this does matter…..on Father’s Day, I have to look inward to what I’ve done to deserve to hear my kids say dad, can you come over here…I want to tell you something. I don’t pretend I’m perfect, I might say to them that I’m kind of busy and can this wait? Or I might ask them to tell me right away what they want. I know this attitude doesn’t lend itself to becoming popular, but I’m doing the best I can…and I know that over a period of time….I will have performed duties that I believe makes me feel that I should be called DAD…..and I’m grateful my kids seem to have the patience with me…whether I’m angry with them over something or whether I am not always fair. They seem to understand given all the things that are on my plate, that they are comfortable calling me dad….and I shall do all that’s possible to continue living up to what a dad should be….so someday as they are men themselves they can still call me dad…and it will fit forever.