Father’s Day
A gift from my daughter.
She sent me this a couple of years ago and it never gets old:
I am thinking today about the men who grew up without fathers, or with fathers who did harm. Who then attended to their own pain, grief, shame, and rage. Who then become fathers themselves. Who now shine on the next generation with their tenderness, self awareness, and presence. I am thinking of you because breaking a cycle is an act of heroism. Happy Father's Day. (Dr. Alexandra H. Solomon)
Be a hero, dad.
Long ago, you posted a story about how your father berated you becaue you "wasted" your work years by doing humanitarian work at low wages instead of going into something that would enrich you economically. I could feel your pain through that post. It is the bane of many struggling to find the balance between making parents proud and doing what you love. Your daughter is right to think of you as a hero by changing the course with your own life. You've lived an incredibly courageous life, not only risking physical being in dangerous places, but resetting the trajectory with your life choices. Congratulations, Dad, you've also set an awesome example for your own children. Happy Father's Da.
Be present in your child's life, dad. At least that.
Wow. What a tender, poignant poem. Thanks for sharing it, Switter.