How would you define what a father means to you?
To me, it’s a man who loves his kids enough to let them make mistakes. A father is a guide and teacher, but he also cares enough to say “no” to his child even when he or she might hate him for it in the moment. That’s because a father tries to do the right thing, not the easy thing.
Part of the “father mystique” to me is that dads often keep a sense of playfulness and fun about them, no matter how old they get. My husband will roll around on the floor wrestling with our son at the drop of a hat — or race shopping carts through the parking lot of our local grocery store, whooping with joy. (The best part is that he doesn’t care if he looks silly — or what people think of him.)
Most importantly, a father is someone who loves their kids even when they’re at their worst — and who never loses faith in them.
Here’s to all the fathers out there who are making a difference in the eyes of the kids who love them. The big things you do are important, but I would wager that it’s those small, simple things that your child will remember for the rest of his or her life.
The Story of my Twin Boys Oliver and Oscar Ferreira 