Post Father's Day Thoughts

When I'm dead and buried, I hope to have a long list of accomplishments and things that describe who I was.

Most important on that list is "Father".

I was thinking how important it is to be a father while I was on the train this morning. If you are male and have children, everything else takes a backseat. Some people say that it's hard to be a parent. I don't know about that. How is anything you love all that hard?

Once, someone said to me, "You are such a good father. How can you do all that?" I had no answer, really. I thought about the thousands of children whose fathers aren't there for them and I wondered to myself how could they do that? No real man does that.

My son and I get along well. I promised myself that there were things I'd never do to him. I swore I'd never beat him. I swore I'd never put him down. I swore that he would have a home of love.

It certainly is easier with a wife as wonderful as I have. Claudia is a terrific mom and companion. She and I agree about how we wish to raise Jonathan. We disagree on some of the details, of course. That is only natural. But we both want what is best for him. And we do what is necessary.

Is it hard?

I don't believe so. It's what we're supposed to do. Hard is going to work every day. Hard is trying to make yourself a better person. Hard is not being there for your child.

Father's day was great for my first one, back in 2000. It was a nice honor. After that, I've come to realize that every day is Father's day. Every time I teach him something, or encourage him, or watch him succeed, or watch him hit a ball or break a board or read or write or just say, "I love you, Dad," is enough of a reward for me.

I cannot predict the future and say with any real certainty the kind of man Jonathan will become. All I can do is give him love and teach him how to live life as best as I know how. I can also savor all the moments we share together and cherish knowing I am his dad.