Sunday, June 17, 2012

Fabulous Fathers





It's Fathers Day and I wish every fine man who is considered a good father a wonderful day--whether or not you planted the seed that grew. You deserve it.

I understand some people have absolutely terrific fathers. Thank goodness these unsung heroes exist. There are too many of the other kind that make the local news. My own relationship with my father was...complex. When I was little he was my hero and I was daddy's little girl. As I grew up things changed. I was no longer adorable. In fact, as a teen I could be downright--ahem--challenging. (Who me?) Oh, yeah. Add to that the irksome truth that my dad and I were very much alike and uh-oh...powder keg. (Why, oh why, couldn't I have taken after my laid-back mother instead of my Type A father?)

Sure, there was that time he threatened to change the locks if I walked out that door--and of course I slammed it on my way out...but the locked weren't changed when I came home and all was forgiven shortly after. Oddly enough, we rarely talked these things through or apologized afterward. We simply understood that we had both acted like a**holes and didn't belabor the point. 

Yet even though I drove him crazy, he was always there for me. He was a good provider. That term seems ridiculously inadequate. The man went to work every day without complaint, and he not only put food on the table and clothes on my back, but he also paid for my college education not once, not twice, but three times!

Between college experiences number one and number two, I came home with an infant. Other men might have said, "You made your bed...buy your own sheets," but not my dad. Without any discussion or demands, he provided for my daughter too. All I can say is, thank goodness my daughter took after my mom and not me or my dad!  

She had some father issues too. Her bio father rejected her outright. Good riddance. He didn't deserve her. My second husband adopted her when she was six. He was, and continues to be, a wonderful dad. Not perfect, but pretty darn good. It wasn't her fault he and I didn't work out, but he and she did. My third (and final) husband is a good friend to her. He entered the picture when she was 13. He didn't want kids of his own, so he considered it a perfect situation. Someone else had done the hard part. He could just enjoy a great kid, take her to amusement parks, teach her how to drive and watch her turn into a terrific young lady.
When she has a problem, she's more apt to call him than me! Just like my dad, he's always there for her.

So, whether or not your father could have been the star of a 1950's TV show, there are probably good things you can find to say about him. I don't know if I thanked my dad properly while he was alive or not. I have the feeling he knew he did a good job. Still, I kind of wish I had made that clear.

If you're going to see your father today, sometime between the barbeque and dessert, be sure to tell him thank you for something specific. You'll make his day.          

11 comments:

Maggie Nash said...

Lovely post Ash. So true. Dads are special in different ways with different people. My dad and I were very close, but he wasn't all that close with my siblings at all, which I could never understand. I guess the secret is remembering that Dads are human and they make mistakes too - no parent is ever perfect. My dad certainly wasn't perfect, but I still have some wonderful memories and always knew he loved me.

Stephanie Queen said...

Touching and true, Ash! Loved your sentiments.

Carly Carson said...

Lovely post. I'm so lucky to have my Dad here visiting with us for the weekend. He devoted himself to his five kids and now that we're adults, we all have wonderful relationships with him. I think he's reaping the rewards of a lot of hard work!

Hot Ash Romance Novels said...

Thanks for taking the time to weigh in on my words.

Have a great Father's Day with your dad, Carly!

Unknown said...

What a great post, Ash. My dad didn't want me when I was born either. My mom remarried when I was four...forty years later I still consider him my father. Although him and my mom didn't work out, I turn to him for advice. He's the one I call and send gifts to on Father's Day. :)

Dalton Diaz said...

Beautiful post, Ash. My father wasn't a man of many words. (Nice way of saying no communication skills, eh?) I wish I had known what I know now as an adult. There are so many questions I never got to ask.

Wynter said...

What a special post. I've always believed fathers are the men who raise kids and not necessarily those that "plant the seed." Mine's not perfect, either but he loves me unconditionally so I count myself very lucky.

Casey Crow said...

Thanks, Ash! How lovely. My dad loves to offer unsolicted advice, but he's always there for me!

Hot Ash Romance Novels said...

I thanked my father-in-law yesterday for his "live and let live" policy. He does it incredibly well. Unfortunately, he's been battling some health issues and didn't look incredibly well yesterday. I hope he pulls through, but if not I'm glad I told him what I love about him.

Naima Simone said...

Awesome post, Ashlyn! I am blessed with a wonderful, AWESOME father! Even though he and my mother broke up when my sister and I were about eight, we were never raised in a single-parent home. He was, and is, always there. We speak every day and have a wonderful, close relationship. This day was made for men like him and the men in your life!

Hot Ash Romance Novels said...

I'm so happy to hear that, Naima. I hope he had a wonderful day.