When I was in my freshman year of high school my Dad was forced to leave his job due to failing health and my Mom quickly took over as the "bread winner" for our household. We were lucky as she was an extremely successful business woman with a rooted career so financially she was positioned to do this but I remember it was difficult for both of my parents at first to adjust but for myself and my sisters, this time was life changing.
Previously with my Mother's career always having her traveling and my Dad working long hours as well we stayed with a babysitter for most of our lives until we were OK to be home on our own after school. With the change of my Dad being home, we were able to spend so much precious time with him during a very awkward and difficult time for young girls trying to figure out their place in this world. We needed him there. He was the first to hear about a crush, a horrible math test, or simply what the cafeteria had provided for lunch. We talked to him about anything and everything and he listened and guided us as though each topic was the most important thing in the world.
As time went on and our problems that were typical for a young adolescent girl became a bit more intense to navigate through, our Dad rose to the challenge and he was there for each of us, for every single moment, every tear, and every smile. He learned how to braid my sister's hair, he knew how to be cool with our friends so much so that the entire neighborhood wished he were their Dad. But more importantly, he was our safety net, our sounding board, our soft place to land after a hard day. Yesterday was his birthday, and he has been in heaven the last 13 years but not a day goes by that I do not think of him or the many lessons I learned from him.
In fact, when our son was born 3 months premature, I knew I chose a man to marry that is very much like my Dad when he offered to stay home with our fragile little boy and I continued developing my career. Not all men would do this. Because of this, our son has an attachment to him that I secretly wish I had but am so grateful they have this connection. It will be rooted in him and someday when our little boy looks back he will remember that his Dad, put him first and always will.
