A Few Cents and Thoughts: Dad Blogs

I decided to postpone my next post in "The Truth Balance" to post a response of sorts to the growing thought within the dad blog community that "we suck" and "we do it all wrong". In the last few days I have read more and more posts, comments and tweets that suggest that dad bloggers suck, that dad bloggers are just doing everything wrong and will never be as successful as mom bloggers, and so on. I have been mulling the idea and thought behind this post all day and I just figured, what have I got to lose? There are several points that I have come across within the whole conversation and reactions found around the web and I am going to just touch briefly on each one and throw my thoughts out there.  *Note: This post is not a personal attack on anyone, or any blogs, writings or etc. I just found the swaying fence of the topic intriguing and I had a response to it.*

Dad blogs suck - Um, okay, first off, says who? I know I don't have a top notch blog with 1000 readers and subscribers, tons of ads clogging up the sidebars and all that. And yes, some of you may think it just flat out sucks. If you do, tell me, don't categorize me. The question is who are we letting decide this and why are we letting it dictate a general thought about all dad blogs? When did it become the thing to automatically join the thoughts of few, then provide it as truth to the masses?

Dad blogs will never be as successful as mom blogs - How does one measure the success of a parenting blog? Is it the number of readers and subscribers? Is it the number of sponsorships, ads, and giveaways? Is it the money generated through selling one's own products and google ads? I'm not sure. I don't really think anyone can really measure the success of a blog. Success, in my opinion, can only be measured by the writer based on whatever they are trying to accomplish. If you are trying to bank 100 dollars a month in ads and you do, then success. If you are trying to average 1000 unique visits a month and you do, success. If you are just looking to write for your sake and people read it and like it anyway, success. No, dad blogs might not get the world's attention (the CNN piece was a crock in my opinion at least from the CNN guys), but who is doing the measuring to begin with?


Dad bloggers don't read dad blogs - Sure I do. Everyday. Commenting is not my strongest point but in all honesty most of what I read is in my Feed Reader and I just read through as the posts come in. I do post comments on the ones I read in a web browser. But to say we aren't reading other dad blogs? Rubbish. I know plenty that read quite a few. We even read mom blogs too. How about that?


2010 is the year of the Daddy Blogger. Next year you will be gone - In case you haven't read this, I think it explains it all pretty well. I don't plan on going anywhere for quite a while. Sure, I have seen a lot of blogs come and go in the very short time I have been doing this, but I have also seen some that have been around for quite a while. Once again, I think it comes down to why we are doing this in the first place. Years and years from now, we may not have Facebook, Twitter may be the new Google and taking over the world, and blogs may be visible through special glasses (hey I still dream like a child). Even if my family are the only ones wearing my blog's glasses, I will still be here writing and sharing. 


Final Summation: I don't know why the fuss is all of a sudden becoming a thing, which I'm sure will pass sometime this week. I don't understand why it is considered so important to compare dad blogs with mom blogs, this blog with that blog, and worry so much about the stats. I guess, for me anyway, it's whatever. As long as I am a dad, and I have the ability to post to this blog, I will be doing just that. I don't care if I never make a living from The DaddyYo Blog, or if I ever hit 1000 unique visits in one week. I don't care if I never sell a single ad space or pick up an endorsement. What I do care about is that i have made the commitment to be here for quite a while. What I do care about is that I am a dad. I'm not a mom, I'm not a pro blogger. I am a dad with things to share, and regardless of what is going on in the blogosphere, I plan to continue to do what I do, and the dude will always abide. 

Remembering The Beginning of it All

Me holding Marlee, and Caleb getting a good look

Holding Caleb for the first time

Just throwing this post up because we were talking about it at work tonight. Remember what it was like the day your kiddos were born? I remember both times like it was yesterday. I remember the smells, the sights, the sounds, and how NERVOUS I was.


Even the second time around, I was more composed than the first time, but when the day started setting in, those nerves were shot, and I was becoming a wreck. "Honey are you okay?" "Is the heart rate fine?" "Are you going to kill me if I go smoke, because I am really freaking out here!"



Both times were so full of emotion, so full of love, full of fear, full of life. The birth, the first cries, and the first time holding my kids and giving them their very first noseys, are memories that I will carry like they were still going on, until the day I die. I will never forget how proud I was to make the transition from guy to dad. It is something I will be proud of for the rest of my life, and a fact that nobody can ever take away from me. 


To my children: you are my world and my everything (next  to mommy of course), and I will always love you. I will always cherish you and be in awe of you. I am Dad, and nothing, or nobody, can take that away!

Let Me Tell You Something About:

Love - The truest form of which is found in the eyes of a newborn child. Totally dependent, already knowing the voices of those closest to it before leaving the womb. True love as an adult, not so easy to find, but when you do, you know it, and the feeling is like none other.

Time - There is never enough of it. It flies by fast, and for the most part, the clock, the watch, the analog and digital representations, mean absolutely nothing. Make the best of what is not guaranteed, and it shall not be wasted.

Standards ...... *chirp chirp*  (okay only my Apple buddies will get that joke) ... seriously, standards, without them the world would be chaos, yet at the same time, we all adhere to different standards. How does this work in harmony? I don't know, it just does. You live your life to certain standards. If you are a parent, live your life to the standards you would want your children to live by. Sure they will pick up things at school, on TV, out with their friends and so on, but they will pick the most up from you. Live your life to the standards they will turn to reflect the most. Be the example!

*This post is brought to you by: My Random Brain! Racking my parents nerves since 1983*

The Music that Defines My Heart

"Don't you know you are my everything. And don't you know you make my heart sing. You've turned my world inside out. Now I know what life is all about. And it's you that I can't live without ..."
-Stretch Arm Strong "For Now" - from the album "Rituals of Life"

*Note* - The above lyrics are a little out of context of the rest of the song, but looking at the quotation above, those exact words, are my exact thoughts when it comes to my children and family, put to ROCKING music.

Today I am following (to a degree) a format of a series of posts seen recently on the blog of @JRReedradio ... Sex and the Single Dad, about music that defines his life. Stretch Arm Strong, as a band, the lyrics, the music, have always had a very profound impact on me. From the time I first listened to them, until right now as I listen to them while I write this. From the first time I saw them live, to the last, just before I moved to Virginia, they have had so much of an impact on my life, more than the members will ever know.

I was listening as I was thinking about topics for upcoming posts, and the above quote came out of my tiny laptop speakers, and just echoed through my mind as I sat and thought about my children. Those words, those exact words, that exact quote, is the written example of everything my children are to me, and the impact they have had on my life.

My Commitment to The DaddyYo Blog

I started writing The DaddyYo Blog back in April of this year. Didn't really think about where I would go with it at that time, just that I wanted to start writing about my experiences and thoughts about being a dad and sharing  it with others. This was when I had only 29 followers on Twitter too. Now, 4 short months later, I have over 400 followers, and the blog has come into its own. I have had so much fun with it, and I am truly blessed for the connections I have made with others through the blog and twitter.

I was talkin to my boss the other day about it. I told him "If there is anything in the world that I could chose to do, love it, get paid enough to support a family, and do it for a long time, it would be writing about being a dad. It's my passion, my joy, and my honor. Obviously, it is a very hard job to write a dad blog and get paid enough to support a family of 4, and I don't really expect it to happen. So where am I going with this?

 I told my wife a few months back, and now I am telling you about my commitment. I have made the comittment to writing The DaddyYo Blog until the last child has moved out of the house. That's right, for the next however many years it is, I will continue to write this blog, every week, until the day the last child moves out. Let's put that in perspective. My youngest is a year old. Giving an average of 4 years in college and moving out that same year, thats 21 years from now. At an average of 3 posts per week, that's 3,276 posts until then.

Why the commitment? The journey through dadhood is a never ending trip. It is a quest of sorts. I will always have new experiences and knowledge to write about and share with others. There will be the first day of school, first date, first turn down, the struggles or adolesence and puberty, prom, graduation, college selection, weddings, and the time for leaving the nest.  There will be a lot of experiences and growing during that time. There will be many times of joy, many times of sadness, and many times of all out, stick you to the walls silly stuff. There will be much to share and much to write. Only when they move out is my job as dad, preparing them to step into the world on their own, be complete. Obviously I will still be dad, but my job will be complete.

When it is all said and done, I will write one final post. A farewell and thanks for the memories. I will look back on all my years raising my children and on the posts and the memories attached to them. I may never do this for a full time living. I may never see a single penny from it all. But what I will get from it is the opportunity to share my life as a dad with the world. To let people into my life, my home, my mind, and share what I learn, what I do, and the joys that come with being "Daddy". It has been so much fun so far, and I look forward to many many more years of bringing my experience as a dad to you, and to look back as time goes by at where I was, to where I am, and think of where I am going. When it is all said and done, it will have been a fantastic ride, and worth every second of it.

DaddyYo

Late Night Thoughts

It is shortly before 1am right now and i find myself awake and thinking once again. Everyone else is asleep and I am lying here wide awake. Times like these i do the most thinking.

I think about my kids and my job as a dad and how I am doing with it. Are they happy? Are they healthy? Do they know that daddy loves them? Am I a good dad, bad dad, okay dad, or average dad? These and many more questions run through my mind on these late nights.

I hope my children know that I love them and that they feel this love from me at all times. I hope that my parenting skills have helped to ensure that they are in good health. And I hope that I have done what it takes to make them happy. Sure they are so young, but happiness is something everyone at every age is entitled to.

Perhaps I spend too much time thinking. Maybe I have nothing to worry about. I through these doubts and fears to the wind and try to clear myself of worry. Nobody said it would be easy. They just said it would be.

Daddy is Here: A Few Words for my Kiddos

From the moment you wake up, to the moment you go to sleep, always remember that daddy is here.

Whenever you are scared or lonely, I want you to always remember that daddy is here.

If you ever need a shoulder to cry on, or just help with your homework, just remember that Daddy is here.

When you are all grown up and moved out on your own, but you need someone to talk to, just remember that Daddy is here.

When I am dead and gone, at my home up in the sky, remember who's you are, and Daddy will be here.

Where I Come From: Reflections on a Saturday Morning

The day started off much like most Saturdays here. Very little traffic, slight rain, lazy mountain Saturday morning. The birds were scrambling to find shelter from the oncoming storm and cows out in the pastures were herding together to stay warm.

That's life here. Small town, middle of nowhere, up in the mountains life. It is a far cry from the busier, more populated, suburban town that I grew up in and the adjacent city I spent a good deal of time in before moving here to Virginia. It is easy going, not hustle and bustle, laid back, not gritting your teeth every minute, and small. VERY small. In fact, I believe the high school I went to housed more students than the entire town limits has residents here.

Letter to my Dad: Happy Father's Day

To My Dad on Father's Day:



27 years ago, you witnessed the birth of a son. A son, whom 27 years later, still looks up to you, still believes in you, and still is grateful for having you in his life. I could not have asked for a better dad. You have been by my side through greatness and in my lowest of times.

You have been my advisor and guide; a source of strentgh and courage. Firm, but fair, and the expample of a real man in my life. You showed me what it means to put family first and to not be afraid to step out of my comfort zone to do what it takes to support my family now. You have loved me without end, and without limitation. You have loved me with a real love that has resonated in my heart for 27 years.

This Father's Day I not only celebrate my own dadhood and being a father to my two wonderful children, but I give much thanks and praise for the dad in my life, without whom I would not be who I am today.

I thank you for always being there for me, even when I gave reason not to be. I praise you for your commitment to your faith, your God, and your calling for your family. I give thanks that I had a dad in my life like you, who did what it took to raise his two children to the best of his ability, never lost hope, and never gave up. Thank you for who you are, and all you mean to me and our family.

I love you,
The Nimrod

Someday, Sometime, Somewhere

Someday, Sometime, Somewhere, my children will think back.

They will tell stories of their childhood and of the parents who raised them.

There will be joy, and tears, laughter and crying.

Someday, Sometime, Somewhere

Someday, Sometime, Somewhere, I will be old, sitting in a chair and thinking.

I will remember the days when my children were young, and so was I.

There will be stories of love, stories of frustration, and stories of triumph of the heart.

Someday, Sometime, Somewhere

Someday, Sometime, Somewhere, I will be gone, and no longer with this world.

I will have left behind those that I have held dear, and they will gather.

There will be sorrow, mourning, and a few last goodbyes.

Someday, Sometime, Somewhere

Someday, Sometime, Somewhere, people will be remembering me.

What will they say? What will listeners think? What did I leave behind?
Will they tell stories of greatness or nothingness? Love, or dislike?

Someday, Sometime, Somewhere

Someday, Sometime, Somewhere I hope my life has made an impact.

Perhaps someone will want to remember me as a dad, husband, or friend.

Perhaps my children will tell their children their grandpa was great, a family man.

Someday, Sometime, Somewhere

`

Wide Face City Clock by Erskine-rivera MErskine

Dental, Mental, and Metal Breakdowns

8:30 came way to early this morning. I mean, who makes a dentist appointment for a 3yo at 8:30 in the morning?!?! So cruel. Anyway, today was Caleb's second ever visit to the dentist. Now it is important to note that Caleb is TERRIFIED of doctors and anyone in scrubs. The dentist is no exception to this fear. Everything is fine in the waiting room. They have a miniature movie theater, a few arcade style games, and some other play things. Pretty cool if you ask me, especially for a pediatric dentistry office. They sure didn't have anything like that when I first started seeing the dentist, but we had Mr Thirsty the water sucker. But I digress

So, hanging out in the waiting room with Caleb and his Uncle Bubby, who was brave enough to come with. Caleb loves his Uncle Bubby so much so we figured that having him with us would make things a little better. Right? WRONG!!!

They call his name, and the crying begins almost immediately. The laughing, playing, "LOOK AT THE FISH!" Caleb ceases to exist. Just this screaming, 3 foot tall, 24 pound bag of bones. My heart just aches for him despite my smile and calming voice saying "it's okay. daddy is here, everything is fine." Just as much as Caleb is breaking down, I am breaking down inside. It pains me to see him so scared, to have to hold him down when all we should be doing is running away and getting outside.

The nurse gets is teeth cleaned up and ready for the dentist to come take a peek. We watch Dora on a small flat screen TV above the chair Caleb is sitting in and he slowly starts to calm down. Then Ms Dentist walks in.   A tall woman, european I believe (sounds like a slight german or dutch accent) and mean. Caleb starts screaming again and holding on to me for dear life. I have to put him down in the chair and hold him. Arm, Legs, and torso pinned up under me. He looks at me screaming "ALL DONE!! DADDY ALL DONE!" and my heart breaks again. I just want to shout at these people and tll them to stop that we are all done. The dentist is poking him saying "stop crying stop crying" and I t am so distraught for Caleb that slapping her starts to seem like an option.

The visit is over and we head to the car. Caleb is calm with the little plastic Nemo looking fish they give him. We put on some heavy metal (Caleb's favorite right now) and get ready to head home. The first breakdown from All That Remains starts to play, and I to look in the rearview to see Caleb. Eyebrows lowered, his freshly cleaned teeth just shining while he bangs his head in time. And home we head, all three of us, headbanging and singing along. The perfect end to a really crappy morning.

Window to the World: A Dad's Eye View

When I was little it always seemed that all the world was a stage and that life was a movie starring myself. I could never see the dangers that lie ahead in life, the letdowns, the downsides that everyone must experience. Change was happening all around, but I couldn't see it, couldn't understand it.


Now I have two little ones of my own, and the view of the world has changed so much. Activities that as a child seemed so harmless, I now look at with fear while watching my children.


Jokes that seemed so funny, so harmless in high school, now seem so cruel, so uncalled for and shameful.


I guess that's how it is when you grow up and have children. The world is in a constant state of change, but so am I. The view through the window is never the same twice, and neither is the view from the eye's of a dad. I want the best for my children, for them to be happy, healthy and safe. I don't see the world as I once did. I know about the dangers, the unfairness, the letdowns my children will face. I don't see the unending canvas of endless possibilities of fun and excitement. 


My eyes see the world in a different light now. But I guess that's part of the job and part of growing up. I see the world as a dad would see it. A scary place to set your kids into, a place of uncertainty and excitement. A challenge to show the world who I am as a dad as it reflects through my children. A challenge against the visions of manhood we see displayed all around us, and a fight against the way the world depicts me as being a dad. 


Maybe I'm just rambling, and perhaps the words will get lost with the past views that have passed in front of my window. Perhaps it's not the world that has changed, just I. Just me. Just dad.



Old window and wall by Petr Kratochvil

A Little Something About Time

I wrote this over two years ago, and never knew then how real the underlying statement of it would be to me now, so I decided to post it here.

"A Little Something about Time"

It's all in due time; these things, hopes and dreams that we all wait to come true. Dreams of being rich, having it all, or doing more in life than just getting by. But time is an endurance run, a marathon, and you are always coming in a close second.

For some, time is just a unit of measure. We count down the minutes until we are off work or out of school. People counting down the hours they have been on the road, yet they are not even close to being home. We count the seconds as we near the end of our lives, and count the days being served in sentences.

Time is a beast that we are all a slave to. We try to do everything "in due time", yet time devours us without a second thought and before we can count the time it takes to do it. Time, is on nobody's side. In a world where time flies by and life never stops,  nobody stops to stand in awe of the moments that make time stand still. We live our lives by the watch, all the while the clock of life keeps ticking away. We are none the wiser to realize it is ticking faster and faster and our watches are useless. One day, mankind will figure it all out, but perhaps, just maybe, it's all in due time.

John T

Past, Present, and High School Reunions

It's funny how quickly history becomes just that: history. I always liked the part in Lion King (watching it a million times with Caleb) where the baboon hits Simba on the head and when Simba asks him what he did it for he says "it does not matter, it's in the past". The instant after events happen or words are spoken or written, they become the past, and in a lot of ways, are no longer a part of our lives.

I started thinking about this as I was reading a blog post by an old high school friend of mine, Marc. In his post he talks about the upcoming reunion of our senior class next year. He'll never know how much the post had an impact on me last night as I started thinking about a certain day where I have probably not actually had a whole conversation with Marc since this day, 9 years ago.

Dancing with my Daughter: A Vid-Text Blog

Honesty is the Best Policy

Okay so almost 2 weeks ago I was tagged by @tessasdad to post "10 honest things about me". I just came across that post (sorry it took me so long) in trying to catch up with the blogs I read. I really need to get the rss feeds sent to my computer that way I never miss a single one. Anyway, the principle of it is to write 10 honest statements about yourself then tag 10 other people to do it. So here we go: 10 Honest Statements about Myself


1. I am heavily addicted to caffeine. For a few years I have struggled with the use and abuse of caffeine pills. I found that as the years have started to take a toll on my health that it was time to give up the 1200mg a day habit. I haven't taken or abused a caffeine pill for 3 days as of right now. Coffee has been the only source of caffeine, and I am working to lower my intake of it as well.

2. I am very, VERY stubborn and have a hard time admitting when I am wrong. This has been an issue for a long long time. I don't like to admit when I am wrong. It is something I struggle with and try daily to improve, although my stubbornness even gets in my own way sometimes.

3. I met my wife in a Yahoo! chat room. That's right. We met online in January of 2005. We talked on the phone that very same night. 4 months later, I packed up and left my home of 22 years for a place I had never seen on a map, and a girl I had never met face to face. A year and 2 months after that, she would become my wife and the future mother to my 2 wonderful children.

4. My biggest fear when I became a father was that my children would not love me and that I would not be able to provide for them. I was scared to death my children wouldn't love me back and that I would not be able to provide for them. Times have been rough every now and then, but I have made sure my children are never without. I would go hungry before they go without.

5. Much to my mother's dismay, I am the one who taught Caleb how to make poot noises and to announce to us "Daddy I FARTED!!!" whenever he breaks wind. What can I say, boys will be boys, and I have the ability to de-evolve back to the mind of a 3 year old. Boys rule!

6. I dropped out of college twice. First time was a medical withdrawal after being treated for depression my freshman year. Second time was because I was young and stupid, and figured working and having money was more important.

7. I am probably one of the biggest Stretch Arm Strong fans there is. No, not the toy, the band. A hardcore punk band from the 803. David Sease, one of the SAS guitarist was twice my US History teacher in high school. Their lyrics have served as strong support in my life since I was in high school, and to this day I still run songs through my head when feeling down or lacking self worth.

8. I am a 5 star chef in my own kitchen. Most people think that since I work in the food service industry that I would not want to do anything like that at home. Truth is, my passion for cooking is the reason I hav ebeen in food service as long as I have. I just naturally migrate to it. I love trying new things in the kitchen, and have considered setting up a small blog with recipes that I create here at home.

9. It took all the way up until I was 22 to finally come out of my shell and not be shy. I used to have a major fear of starting a new job, or really just being anywhere I didn't know people. I had a hard time opening up and just letting it all hang out. It wasn't until after I was released from an inpatient rehabilitation program and started working again that I had the confidence to just be me and go out and face the world with open arms. And I think I can thank the programs I went through around that time and my family who accepted the new "clean" me with the same open arms they had for me all along.

10. This is one of the hardest things I have ever done lol! no seriously, to sit down and think of 10 truths to tell people that don't know that much about me is really hard to do. But liberating to, just to put it out there and let it be what it is.

Now for the fun part, it's MY turn to tag some people. I'm sure some of you listed below have already done this or been tagged, but I'm new in the blogging world so it is bound to happen. Now let's see hmmm....

nuckingfutsmama

1_CRAZY_mama

WhyIsDaddyCryin

NewYorkDad

BusyDadE

TheJackB

freckleface66

MommyCussAlot

howefitz

TheAngelForever

A Letter to my Mommy

To my mom:
From day one, you were always there. You held me with your love, and comforted me with your kind and humble spirit. Through the good times, the bad times, the rough times, you were always there. You guided me with your heart, and embraced me in your soul. You were always there to be a friend when I was lonely and to be a teacher when I was uncertain.

For 27 years you have offered me guidance, words of truth, words of motherly love and concern. None of the words have gone unheard. You have always been a guiding force of truth in my life and for that I am eternally grateful.

We've had a lot of great times these last 27 years. From birthday and Christmas parties in elementary school, to Orlando and yelling "I love baked beans!" at Steak and Shakes all over. Games of Phase 10 and round table discussions that flew off the map due to both us being slightly on the ADD side lol. Family vacations, church youth trips, and band trips we shared times together. Watching Heidi chase an oatmeal cream pie across the dining room and trying to rescue socks from her lock-tight jaws.

You have taught me about the value of family, and that life is not always easy. You have been there when I stumbled, and been there when I fell flat on my face. You have been there during my greatest triumphs, and my lowest points in life.

I am very proud to be able to call you my mother, and that it is a fact that can never be changed. I praise God everyday for you, and pray for His protection over you. I share stories with friends and family and of lessons you have taught me along my way.

I love you, Mom, and you will always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you for everything you have ever done for me, and for everything you mean to me. I hope you have the greatest Mother's Day ever this year.

In love and admiration,
The Nimrod

The Old Man (A DaddyYo Shorty)

This is where the old man used to sit. Every evening as the sun started to recede behind the mountains. it was his favorite chair and his favorite glass. It was his favorite time of day as the air was cooling, the tree frogs were waking up, and the mountains were aglow with the setting sun behind them.

This is where they gather. The old man's children. Once a year they gather here. They share stories of their father, a man of value, a man of principle, a man of his family. They tell their fondest memories and the words their father used to share with them. 

Here they remember the man who forever shaped their lives. The man who carried them, cared for them, guided them, and inspired them. They remember a time when they had not a care in the world, and that man was their superman. They didn't need the finer things in life, just their hero.

They remember his words of wisdom. The words of truth, spoken to them in the voice of a dads love. They remember why it is they still gather here. They eldest son recalls his father's greatest teaching during every gathering. He tells them of his father's saying "this house is old, it's rusting and peeling. It's cracked and worn. But my heart is full, it is strong, and it is yours forever. A man's love for his family far exceeds the boundaries of his dwelling place."

They remember their times when money was short, the days were long and the nights were restless. They remember a man who left home at 6:00 every morning, and would not return until 8:00 at night. They recall their dad's love for them and his dedication to always doing his best for them.

The house sits barren now, remaining untouched for many years. Their their father was long gone and the children had all moved on. It was only this time of year that they can all get together, and so they do. They gather outside on the lawn, picnic lunch, and just remember.

And in this way the old man lives forever. In the hearts, the minds, the memories, and the stories. His iron will and unshakable dedication to his family is remembered for generations. Out in front of the house. The old, tattered, rusting and peeling house. In view of the chair. It was the old man's favorite chair, where he sat and watched the sun go down behind the mountains. 

To the Children of the World: From, Dad

You are the light of the world! You are the present and the future. You are our hopes and dreams, our inspiration and our lives. You are the reason we do what we do and why we never give up.

You are our reminder of what life is about. You are our comfort in times of sorrow without even knowing. You are the source of much joy in times when it seems there is not much left to take joy in. You bring new life into those who who see life as fleeting, dark, and desolate.

You are the many blessings of many people, and the answers to many prayers. You are the angels that our placed into our lives. You are the love that burns within us, and melts our hearts in infinite ways. You are the very breath we take.

Children of the world, you are OUR world. We, the dads, who care for you, cherish you, and infinitesimally love you, we thank you for being the light of our worlds. We are blessed to have you in our lives, and the world is blessed for each one of you even from the moment of birth. We promise to always be here for you, to guide you and support you. To be your strength as you are to us. To be your joy in times of your sadness. We promise to keep our heads high, do what we do, and keep pressing forward for you. You are the children of the world. We are the dads. And we love you!

Love,
Dad

The ABC's of my Children

Absolutely amazing


Breathtakingly beautiful


Charmingly capricious 


Delightfully debonair


Especially Energetic


Flawlessly fearless


Gloriously gifted



Hilariously hyper


Irresistibly imaginative 


Joyously jazzy


Knowingly kindhearted 


Ludicrously loved


Mysteriously majestic


Needlessly Noisy


Oddly observant 


Permissibly persistent 


Quaintly quixotic 


Rightfully  rambunctious 


Splendidly silly


Typically tiresome


Unequivocally  Unique


Vividly vivacious


Wildly whimsical


Xtremely xenodochial


Youthfully yappy


Zany (couldn't find another word lol)