Daddy's girl
When I was a sophomore in high school, I got into a horrible bike accident that left me in a wheelchair for two months. I won't go into details, but let's just say that at age 15, when all you want is to fit in and be popular, being pushed around by your parents with all four limbs bandaged up like a Ace mummy doesn't exactly scream "cool kid".
That summer, I remember one especially depressing day when I was lying on the sofa, watching music videos (this was back when MTV did play music videos and reality TV didn't even exist). "Summertime" by Will Smith came on and I felt so miserable and depressed. Not only did I long to be outside, swimming at pool parties and getting Dairy Queen with my friends, but I was battling much larger concerns about my future like, "How will I relearn walking and dancing?"
Hating my body for the way it looked (I had been badly burned), I started crying to my dad. "Who will ever want to go out with me?" I asked between patheic sniffles. "What boy will ever want to date me looking like this?"
And my dad looked me right in the eye in our family room and said with a gentle smile, "Honey, why would you ever want to be with someone who only loved you for what you looked like on the outside?" I'll never forget that - it maybe didn't cure all of my boyfriend woes on the spot, but it touched me deep-down and that message has resonated ever since. It speaks volumes about the kind of man my father is and how he raised my brother and I.
Lots of love to all the fathers out there who are raising strong, confident women (and men). You're doing important work. And Happy Father's Day, Dad!
xxo,
Leslie
Comments
Yay for all the good dads who are able to instill that kind of message in their daughters!
Hi Leslie
Beautiful. Makes me all warm and fuzzy. I bet you will carry that with you all of you life.
I am my father's daughter in many ways, especially the creative side and the way I look at the world. I thought I'd post my own father's day blog here as you suggested.
A Father's Love
I was 12 years old when my brother Eusi was born. Carrying him on my hips, I was like the little mother who fussed over her child. I changed him, fed him and protected him. I even pretended that he was my own baby. So it was strange for me when at 20, he suddenly became a father and was toting around his own child. From the day my nephew was born and for the first 5 years of his life, my brother was his sole care giver (with my mother's help). He made and kept doctor's appointments for immunizations, kissed "boo boos," changed diapers, dried tears, got up for 2.a.m. feedings and loved that little boy as both mommy and daddy.
too long...read the rest at www.surewoman.blogspot.com/search/label/Family
Great story, Leslie!
That's good sound theology from Daddy! My daddy was the same. Always a kind encouraging word that made me feel that surely if nobody else could love me, one person certainly did. DADDY!
I told my sis I wanted to marry a man like my dad. I got my wish.
That was my first impression of my sweetheart, and in those vital things, he's like dad(and better if possible) Three cheers for Dads who are really Dads!
