I got a taste of what it's like to be a parent as I watched my "little" niece play volleyball in her league all-star game. A gentleman that I work with was there watching his daughter play. We did the "That's my girl in the blue over there...Oh yeah, well that's my little girl in the red there...etc.." thing. We bragged on our stars, then we bragged on each other's, and we had a ball. My niece, Nicole, served a few times and ran off some points, the crowd cheered, and I walked around the gym with my chest stuck out, as if I had done something.
I really envy fathers who get to do that type of thing all the time, and feel sorry for fathers who don't take advantage of the opportunity. Nicole is the closest thing I have to a daughter, and I am amazed as I watch her grow, both in size and as a person. It is so hard to believe that she was once a little toddler running around the house wrecking it...
...who grew into a weird little kid...
...who eventually blossomed into a beautiful young lady.
I am extremely proud of her, even though as a teen-ager it matters very little to her right now. She's in that "boy-crazy" stage, so I'm stocking up on all the weapons I will need when the young men come calling on her. I will have her come and live with me so I can monitor these little vultures who are waiting to pounce on my baby girl.
I'm sure being a father is very difficult at times, and maybe I don't have a full appreciation for it because I have no children of my own, but I also know it can be very rewarding.... even for us "Daddies for a Day."
This way for "For Fathers"
This way for "Women"
This way for "Aliens"
This way for "Granddad"
This way for "Father's Day"
This way for "Aging"
This way for "Friends"
This way for "The World"
This way for "God's Hands"
This way for "Home"
This way for "The End"
This way for "Why?"