I’m Okay With “Girl Dad” Title
Today is one of the two most special days of my life (it is a tie obviously). Though she was adopted second, the anniversary of the day my younger daughter was placed in my arms comes first. Next to their birthdays, this day is very important to both daughters, the days they became my daughters, and I became their Dad.
Dad. Until recently, that is the only variation of the title I ever expected to hear besides maybe Father. But thanks to a rough and tough football player, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, and having three daughters, two toddlers and an infant, he may just be Dad to his daughters, but the population is referring to him as “a girl Dad.”
Ever since the popularity of the interactions between Kelce and his brother Travis, Jason’s family has seen quite a bit of attention especially since a video appeared of his oldest daughter being recorded in an “offensive lineman stance” just like her father. And with the NFL Pro Bowl just this past weekend, there were sightings all over with Kelce interacting with his daughters whether at the grounds of the game or at Disney. And when you watched these videos, you did not think you were watching one of the greatest centers of the game. You were watching a great Dad, taking every opportunity that he could, to spend time with his daughters. And the title, “girl Dad” was born.
As a fellow “girl Dad” myself, it really is not that hard to do. My daughters are my world and there is not a thing I would not do for them. I support each of them, their goals and aspirations, and cannot wait to see who they become as adults. Of course, considering what the three of us have gone through, especially over the last fifteen years, we all cherish every moment we get to be with each other, the time dwindling down since both are now in college.
I have been asked occasionally if I had ever given any thoughts of ever wanting a son, and would my parenting be any different than it is now. I do not even hesitate in answering “no, I do not ever think what it would have been like to have a son.” Nor do I think my parenting would have been any different, though admittedly, I am very protective of my daughters. I have made that clear with them and anyone they should think about dating.
But two years after my youngest had been adopted, my meaning, my purpose, took on a higher direction. Never had I have to redirect my thinking so strongly, with my health battling the late effects from my cancer treatments for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, than to leave no doubt to anyone, I wanted to live and I would do what it took, for my daughters. On the verge of dying, my cardiologist’s words, not mine, I thought I would never see my daughters again. As much as I felt that would hurt them, especially later in life when they understood everything that happened, it hurt me more to think I could end up leaving them behind.
Fifteen years later after that surgery, we are still making memories, with what I hope, will be many more. The last ten years definitely were not the way that I had planned for the three of us, but we are making memories every chance we get. I can no longer ride amusement rides with them, or toss them into the air. I have a lot more important things now that will impact their adult lives, making decisions on big things like a house or car, building a family, preparing for life events with insurances, etc..
But after all these years, not one thing has changed. These special dates like today, changed my life for the better and were the biggest blessings a man could have. I love both my daughters “to the moon and back.” Life has been great as a “girl Dad.”
Paul's Heart 