Being a dad is the coolest thing I’ve ever gotten to do. Cooler than playing drums with a big band. Cooler than meeting the President. Cooler than getting published. Cooler than winning some big award for design. I’d trade every experience I’ve ever had, if that’s what it would take to keep being my daughter’s father. It’s that big of a deal.
Being around my daughter is one continuous roller-coaster ride. Watching how her mind works, listening to her vocabulary grow, seeing the light of dawning comprehension on things I’ve long taken for granted – it’s all like unwrapping a new toy on Christmas morning for me, because that’s how fresh, new and exciting these things are for her. And I love it. Just like I love her.
Tonight, we were waiting on Mrs. Digital to join us to watch some TV together. Mom insisted on flitting about, doing household chore stuff that could wait. She wanted us to go ahead with the program. We finally compromised on her doing the evening ablution thing, then she’d sit down and watch 24 with us. Without thinking about it, my daughter and I agreed to the deal, saying in unison, “okay…but don’t pass Go, and don’t collect $200.” We looked at each other, cracked up, and high-fived each other.
I’m in constant awe of how my daughter’s mind works. She has a grasp of sarcasm, irony and drama well beyond her 10-going-on-11 years. I mean, this kid’s timing rivals the little old-beyond-their years thespians you see on Disney and Nickelodeon. Of course, sometimes that’s got a down side, especially when she gets a little too big for her britches. But that’s all a part of growing-up. And she’s doing a bang-up job of it.
While I realize my God-assigned duty as her father is to guide her development, and steer her in the right direction, oftentimes I pray that I first, do no harm. My daughter is such a precious gift to me, and I have been so blessed to be given the opportunity to be a dad. I know this sounds really corny and stupid (which, of course makes it even more bizarre that I’d lay my soul open online like this), but I really do, literally thank God every day for this. And come to think of it, “cool” doesn’t begin to describe it.
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