Column: Thanks for Listening

“Tayler looked up at me and said, ‘Daddy, please stay,’ with just a gentle squeeze placed on my hand it was another day that I just could not say no. I was her hero, her dad and Superman all wrapped into one. I did not care that other parents did not stay in the kindergarten line. I only cared that my little girl wanted me to be with her. If Tayler was not confident, then I was not confident. I think back to those couple of weeks when holding my hand gave her all the strength she needed and wish that is all you would need in life.”

 

Well, Tayler is graduating from high school, but that moment seems just like yesterday. Letting go is tough for a dad of a little girl. You struggle with all the father worries, but not of your confidence in your daughter. The struggle and worry is about the way the world is, the unknown factors, the people you do not trust, and the fact that, darn it, you just cannot be there for her all the time.

You see — that is the rub. You trust your daughter, but you also want to be with her to chase away all the bad, too.

 

“Mom is out of town, and it is third-grade picture day! Michael Myers from ‘Halloween’ is not scarier than the thought of letting down your little girl on picture day. I had done pigtails before, but that was just the single pony. (I did not know that there were names for all of these different kinds of ponies, but alas there is). This was the granddaddy of them all — the matching side ponies. After Tayler got ready for the big day, she said, ‘Daddy, I am ready for my hair,’ and my blood ran cold. I had the brush, two rubber bands that were strategically the same color as my daughter’s outfit (thanks to Bonnie) and a ruler. Please now picture the next 30 minutes with the phrase, ‘That is not how Mommy does it’ being repeated over and over by Tayler and only being interrupted by an occasional ‘Ouch! Daddy.’ Needless to say, I attempted this a few times while measuring the match of the two sides with a ruler each time. It took several times, but I think we finally did it. Tayler was happy with it and I was happy with it. It was teamwork at its finest.”

 

Teamwork is exactly what a father and daughter accomplish in life. Whether it is forming an alliance when Mom is mad at both of us, or just trying to pick a movie to watch, it takes communication for such a sensitive relationship to grow.

God knows it is never perfect, and it is the polar opposite of the relationship a mom and daughter have, but a father and daughter’s connection is very special. It starts out as a protective bear and then turns into a friend that just wants the right things to happen. We dads are sometimes too strict and occasionally a bit bossy, but just know it is always based on the power of love for you, our daughter.

Tayler, my dear, I am so proud of you. The milestones you have accomplished and the mountains you have climbed to get to this moment have been remarkable. Congratulations on your high school graduation. I am so proud of you.

I love you.

— Dad

 

Here is a song that I cannot seem to get out of my head over the last couple of weeks. I hope you like it:

 

“Child of Mine” by Carol King.

Although you see the world different than me

Sometimes I can touch upon the wonders that you see

All the new colors and pictures you’ve designed

Oh yes, sweet darling

So glad you are a child of mine

 

Child of mine, child of mine

Oh, yes, sweet darling

So glad you are a child of mine

 

You don’t need direction; you know which way to go

And I don’t want to hold you back, I just want to watch you grow

You’re the one who taught me you don’t have to look behind

Oh yes, sweet darling

So glad you are a child of mine

 

Child of mine, child of mine

Oh yes, sweet darling

So glad you are a child of mine

 

Nobody’s gonna kill your dreams

Or tell you how to live your life

There’ll always be people to make it hard for a while

But you’ll change their heads when they see you smile

 

The times you were born in may not have been the best

But you can make the times to come better than the rest

I know you will be honest if you can’t always be kind

Oh yes, sweet darling

So glad you are a child of mine

 

Child of mine, child of mine,

Oh yes, sweet darling

So glad you are a child of mine

 

Child of mine, child of mine

Oh yes, sweet darling

So glad you are a child of mine

Thanks for listening.

 

Tribune Publisher Scott Schmeltzer’s column appears every Thursday.