daddies

dads are special. i know this more than ever now that i have a daughter.

when i was a little girl, i didn't have a dad. the great thing about being a little girl, though, is that i didn't know any better ... well, that is until i did.

i was maybe 5 or so in a room full of other children. we were at church, and we were having a craft activity: making Father's Day cards. i distinctly remember kneeling on the floor happily coloring on some construction paper as i used my metal fold-up chair as a desk. i even remember writing in crayon, "Happy Father's Day," just like all the other kids were doing. i liked coloring.

then, it dawned on me. who was i going to give this card to? i have a mommy, i knew that. hm. boy, was i stumped. poor little girl Tatum. can you just see the confusion that must have been written all over my face? i think i gave my half-finished card to one of the adults in the room when i realized i didn't need to finish it, and then left wondering why i only had a mommy when everyone else had a mommy AND a daddy.

i was one of the lucky few whose single mothers re-married a good man. this good man became my "Daddy" when i was 9 years old, the only one i've ever known. now i had someone to make a Father's Day card for! but more importantly, i was given my very own new father, and he actually loved me!

and now, my Tess has a father who loves her. it has been some of the greatest and happiest moments of my life to watch Sam be a dad to Tess. there is such a special bond between them, even though it is me who actually spends the most time with her. her little angel face lights up whenever he holds her, talks to her or sings to her. when Tess was born, it was with Sam that she had her first "skin to skin" contact with while i got stitched up from my c-section. i love knowing that. i love knowing that Sam looked forward to those first moments with his first little girl.

to dads of daughters everywhere. you are so special.