When my kids were little, I had a job as a trade-school instructor. One night I was up late in our study grading papers and writing my course materials for the next day.
From the living room came the sweet voice of my then 6-year-old daughter, with a plaintive note in it. “Mommy? Why won’t Daddy come up and say goodnight to us? Doesn’t he love us any more?”
I dropped the papers on the desk, went out, gathered my two kids up in my arms, and carried them up to my daughter’s room. There, I sat on her bed with them, read them stories, told them stories, sang them a lullaby, and carried my son into his room to tuck him in for the night.
Returning to my daughter’s room, I turned off her light, tucked her in, kissed her forehead, and then sat there. In a few moments, she asked quietly, “You do love us, don’t you Daddy?”
“Yes, Sweeting, I do. And tomorrow I am going to make sure that I can come and say goodnight to you every night, until you leave home to live on your own.”
“OK.” Fifteen seconds later, she was out for the count, sound asleep, and I tiptoed out.
The next day I went in to the school and quit my teaching job. My own kids were more important to me than someone else’s. And my wife backed me 100%. I never regretted it.
Recently, my daughter reminded me of that incident. “That was when I realized how much you and Mommy must love us, Daddy. I’ve held onto that thought all my life, and now I’m using that same idea with my own son. I hope he also understands.”
My husband’s father was kind of an absent father. Even when he was there, he wasn’t “there”, if you know what I mean. One of my husband’s biggest fears was that he wouldn’t be a good father. He works a 3rd-shift job and always says goodnight with a kiss & a hug before he leaves…still does, even though our daughters are now 16 and 18. He tries to get out on time so that, if the weather is bad, he can drive them to school instead of them walking. He asks for time off for important award ceremonies & concerts; he’s already put in for our older daughter’s graduation day off even though it’s not ‘til June. It’s always his preference that we all sit together at the table for dinner. Once in a while, he’ll take one or the other out for a “daddy/daughter date”.
We kept the one with P saying “Bye Mom, I’m off to college!” on the fridge while the kids were little. They’re out of college now and P is still pulling this. Sweet.
jmworacle over 3 years ago
The dividends will pay off big time.
SrTechWriter over 3 years ago
When my kids were little, I had a job as a trade-school instructor. One night I was up late in our study grading papers and writing my course materials for the next day.
From the living room came the sweet voice of my then 6-year-old daughter, with a plaintive note in it. “Mommy? Why won’t Daddy come up and say goodnight to us? Doesn’t he love us any more?”
I dropped the papers on the desk, went out, gathered my two kids up in my arms, and carried them up to my daughter’s room. There, I sat on her bed with them, read them stories, told them stories, sang them a lullaby, and carried my son into his room to tuck him in for the night.
Returning to my daughter’s room, I turned off her light, tucked her in, kissed her forehead, and then sat there. In a few moments, she asked quietly, “You do love us, don’t you Daddy?”
“Yes, Sweeting, I do. And tomorrow I am going to make sure that I can come and say goodnight to you every night, until you leave home to live on your own.”
“OK.” Fifteen seconds later, she was out for the count, sound asleep, and I tiptoed out.
The next day I went in to the school and quit my teaching job. My own kids were more important to me than someone else’s. And my wife backed me 100%. I never regretted it.
Recently, my daughter reminded me of that incident. “That was when I realized how much you and Mommy must love us, Daddy. I’ve held onto that thought all my life, and now I’m using that same idea with my own son. I hope he also understands.”
I’m sure he will, in time, Sweeting.
Sephten over 3 years ago
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings . . .
jagedlo over 3 years ago
High five to you, Pasquale!
Wren Fahel over 3 years ago
My husband’s father was kind of an absent father. Even when he was there, he wasn’t “there”, if you know what I mean. One of my husband’s biggest fears was that he wouldn’t be a good father. He works a 3rd-shift job and always says goodnight with a kiss & a hug before he leaves…still does, even though our daughters are now 16 and 18. He tries to get out on time so that, if the weather is bad, he can drive them to school instead of them walking. He asks for time off for important award ceremonies & concerts; he’s already put in for our older daughter’s graduation day off even though it’s not ‘til June. It’s always his preference that we all sit together at the table for dinner. Once in a while, he’ll take one or the other out for a “daddy/daughter date”.
pheets over 3 years ago
Can’t turn THAT offer down, Jimbo…not that you would :)
1953Baby over 3 years ago
Now why can’t we hear more “dad” stories like Jimbo and Sr Tech Writer’s and Wren Fahel’s? I KNOW there are good dads out there. . .
raybarb44 over 3 years ago
Don’t ever miss an opportunity to share time with one you love……
David_the_CAD over 3 years ago
Why do the call it news when it is just the same old thing over and over?
rhpii over 3 years ago
Good point!
someotherotherguy over 3 years ago
We kept the one with P saying “Bye Mom, I’m off to college!” on the fridge while the kids were little. They’re out of college now and P is still pulling this. Sweet.
JesseLouisMartinez over 3 years ago
Always find time to be dad