Happy Father's Day!

Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad.

I was born to a father.  Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending how you look at it.  I believe my parents divorced when I was about three.  I don’t remember a lot about my father from those early days.  I remember seeing him once a month when he picked my brother and sister and I up for weekend visits with my grandma.  I really have no idea if we saw him any more than that or not.  I do know that it broke my grandma’s heart that we didn’t have him in our lives more.

By the time I was six, I had a dad.  Mom remarried and her new husband adopted us.  I remember being at the courthouse, in a room with bookshelves and lots of books.  I don’t remember what was said, but I do remember the three of us discussing what we would call mom’s new husband.  I planned to call him dad.

Our father was still a small part of our lives.  Over the years, my siblings and I had interactions with him, but I don’t think any of us were satisfied with the relationship.  Then in 2006, he developed pancreatic cancer.  Within a few short months, he was gone.  I am thankful that his third wife let us know when time was short, and we were able to visit him.  The visit didn’t change any of the pent up emotions we all had, but I do believe he was grateful for the time we spent with him, in spite of everything.

Dad has been a much bigger part of our lives.  He raised us as if we were his own.  The three of us have different relationships with him.  The relationship, or non-relationship, we had with our father has colored our relationships with dad.

As we celebrate Father’s Day this year, I am thankful for my dad.  I haven’t always agreed with him - in fact, we’ve often not seen eye-to-eye.  But I know my dad accepts me for myself.  He loves me for who I am, and I reciprocate those feelings.

I see my kids having some of the same, and many different, conversations with my husband - their dad.  They’ve all had their moments, but I hope as they grow and mature they realize how important their dad has been to them.  There are some things a mom just can’t do!

To all the dad’s out there, Happy Father’s Day!