I love this picture so much. Its of my daughter and her father, my husband, at her graduation. I am nearly brought to tears every time I look at it. Seeing the confidence in her gaze and the security in her eyes as her father gently kisses her head… It opens old wounds for me of growing up without a father. It creates a longing for something that I never had. Paternal love. It brings me joy when I understand what she has. Paternal love. Love from her daddy. Its not that behind the scenes “I make sure she has what she needs” love. Its out in the open and publicly displayed. It evokes so many emotions in me and makes me understand that maybe I am not “over” growing up without a father. I am definitely not over it. Maybe I will never get over not having him be there for me. Oh sure, I am a very confident and happy “40+ chick”… on the outside. On the inside I still long for love from my daddy and I believe I always will. As a society we place loads of emphasis on boys and their need for dads in their life. We hear it all all the time: ”A boy needs a man to become a man.” ”A woman can not teach a boy to become a man…” and my favorite… “Boys need a positive male role model to show them how to be men.” There are mentoring programs for boys, where they get to hang out with positive male role models who take them places and show them things. Well I am here to tell you that little girls need their daddies too! I know there are studies somewhere to support but I am not gonna go look for them because I already know and YOU already know that Dads are a girls FIRST experience with any man. Good Dads show little girls how men should treat them. Good Dads teach little girls how a man should cherish and love them. With out a Good Dad girls seek love in all the wrong places. Without a Good Dad little girls have to learn about things on their own and protect themselves. I am sure there are exceptions to every rule. but for my life… without my dad there to protect me and to love me… I went through a lot. So this picture touches me in so many ways. I don’t know… Maybe I will get beyond the flood of emotions that I experience when I think of him and why he couldn’t be there for me, but until then I will live vicariously through this picture. I am so proud and so happy to have married a man that gives these things to my daughter. I am also so happy to see my daughter grow up with something that I never had… A Dad.
If you are a dad who takes care of and is there for your daughter, I salute you! YOU are making her life DIFFERENT.
What is your relationship with your Dad like?
