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I Am a Father

[big]Why Is It So Important For A Father To Be In His Daughter's Life?[/big]

THIS QUESTION WAS ASKED OF ME BY A YOUNG WOMAN:
[i]Why is it so important for a father to be in his daughter's life?[/i]

After standing there for a few minutes with my jaw hanging down, I finally answered:

This question just blows me away. Seriously. You don't know?


I don't know the relationship you have with your father. I do know the one I have with my daughter, however. I know why I am the way I am, and why I do things the way I do them. So, again, I can't speak for all dads, just me.

1. My daughter is the first girl born in my family line in 64 years. No, that's not a typo. 64 years. To say she is treasured beyond all measure is an understatement, considering that in my family, you only get ONE daughter per generation, and usually the first born. So, yeah. Nothing will come between me and her, unless it wants to suffer pain with extreme prejudice. Try to harm her, and pain will be the least of your worries. That's not a promise. It's a guarantee.

2. I am her Knight and her Protector. I am the Shield between her and a cruel world that doesn't care about her welfare and well being, until such a time that she can do it on her own, with or without my having her back.

3. I am her Teacher. I am her Mentor. I must impart to her all the skills I have, so that she may survive and thrive, flourishing in a world that will one day not have me there anymore, because eventually-- we all die.

4. I am the Example. I am the Template. I am what she will consider "normal" for a husband and a future father to be, and what she will seek for companionship when she is looking for a mate, and as such, I must be the kind of man that I would want my daughter to be with, one who will love her with all of his heart and soul, and give themselves completely to her.

5. I am her Truth. I am her Rock. I never lie to her. I keep my morals and my ideals constant, a solid foundation upon which she may build her own. I live by my word, and by my deeds, one and the same. She knows that I am consistent, and she can count on it, no matter what.

I could go on, but that's the basics. I don't know why it's important for anyone else, but I know why it is for me.

It's because she so important to me.
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Coralmist · 41-45, F
Wow.. that is beautiful, inspiring and really melts your heart, truly. My dad has unfortunately been the complete opposite of any single thing you said or emanate. He actually TOLD me 'I don't care' when he was ignoring me over an issue or question I was asking... I had gotten so sad, and said 'do you even care?' and I repeated it, and he said that, above. I just was heartbroken, and when I talk to him about my mom's awful abuse , he says' 'move on'. ONe time I needed a ride only for 10 mins down the road (I was being released from the hospital) and he was going to be in the area within an hour.. he said to get a cab. Now normally its ok I guess, its not the end of the world: BUT he was going to be in the area :/ NO heart, no care for anyone but him. To see a dad like you is just baffling to me.. like, it exists??? A dad that WANTS to love and cherish and be there for his daughter? I admire you and thank you for sharing this from your heart: it is a real eye opener that LOVE exists and it is not some dream- what a GREAT post.
GwydionFrost · 56-60, M
@Coralmist You know, while my heart was warmed by your praise, it was broken by your reality. Even on my girls' worst days, when they are acting like your dad did to you, to me (after all, you don't appreciate what you have until you don't)...? They are still my "happy place", and I tell them so.