Fatherhood

Yesterday was Father’s Day, and like any self-respecting father, I chose to eat too much, play video games, and basically do a whole lot of nothing. It was wonderful. I can’t wait until next year.

Father’s Day has been a bit difficult for me too since losing my own father almost nine years ago. I think about him nearly every day anyway, so Father’s Day is just a day-long reminder of how much I miss him. I was blessed to have him as my dad, faults and all.

Nothing in life really prepares you for being a parent…except being a parent. There are many similarities between teaching and parenting. The big difference is that the kids are yours so they don’t go home at the end of the day. Much like teaching though, parenting is challenging but rewarding, and it doesn’t pay well. Being a parent is also one of the best decisions I’ve ever been a part of.

One of my good friends once told me that parents have to grow up too. There are so many truths in that statement that I don’t think I could even begin to list them all. I’ve absolutely evolved as a person over the past (almost) thirteen years, and I figure I have a lot more to learn along the way.

I’ve lost my cool more times than I’d like to admit, but I’ve tried to use those moments to reflect on how I can be a better father and person.

I’ve doubted myself as a parent more than in any other situation, but I’m pretty sure that if you don’t often doubt yourself as a parent, you’re doing it wrong.

I’ve learned to love in ways that only a parent can understand, and there’s no way to actually explain that. You just have to experience it when you’re ready.

I’m sure the lessons will keep on coming as my kids enter their teen years, but I do feel at least somewhat prepared for that since I’ve been teaching teenagers for the past nineteen years. Very little surprises me about kids anymore.

I hope I didn’t just jinx myself.