Dear J
Tomorrow I celebrate my 15th Father’s Day. And it’s all thanks to you and your younger brother.
This isn’t a fact lost on me I can assure you.
Thanks to you both, I’ve understood what it truly means to live a full life. One that feels full to me because of all the new experiences I’ve gained since becoming your dad; experiences I never would have had if you and your brother never entered my life and your mommy’s life.
So thank you.
However, as I look back on the many parenting blog posts I’ve uploaded over these past five years, I realise more of my posts could have celebrated the joys of parenting you and your brother. Rather than talk mostly about the challenges.
So in the coming weeks, months, and years, allow me to pen new memories to express my gratitude for being your father.
Camping Blues
Meanwhile, I want to put on record here that the past seven days haven’t been the best.
You were very ill with a mystery virus that either kept you in bed or in the restroom most of the time. Still, your recovery yesterday (finally) felt like welcome rain after a season of drought. Today you could rejoin your friends in the four-day camp that started two days ago and which you thought you were going to miss.
Again.
Yes, we remember you missed not one but two school camps back in March when you accompanied your family to a holiday in China that coincided with both camps. It was unfortunate, and your mommy and I felt keenly your loss. Especially your mom, since the China holiday was one she helped to plan (without knowing there would be two camps happening that same week!).
Being 15 is all about coming more and more into your own identity. Much of that is forged through concentrated and protracted time spent with peers. So I know it sucked when you couldn’t be with them in March, and when it looked this week like history was again going to repeat itself!
So I’m really glad you have returned to your friends this morning. Even though you’re joining them midway, I know it’ll still be worth it in the end.
You Are The Reason I’m Proud To Be A Dad
More importantly, I’ve watched you being ill this past week, and, aside from bringing you to see the doctor — twice — there was very little I could do.
With 15 years of parenting in my pocket now, you would think such occasions won’t faze me anymore. Yet my son, feeling helpless and worried comes with the territory of parenting.
Every day you’re bedridden reminds me just how precious you are and how I would gladly change places with you in a heartbeat or wrestle that virus to the ground if I could.
Now that you’ve finally recovered, I feel the urge to find every reason possible to celebrate, pamper, and just love you with every fibre of my being. Just knowing that you’re alright again makes me feel like the world’s alright again too.
Yes son, you and your brother in the pink of health is THE constant desire in my life. Because you matter so much, and you are both THE reason I can celebrate Father’s Day every day.
Love you to the moon and back!
Yours forever
Daddy-Dufus
