parents
The boundless love a parent has for their child is matched only by their capacity to embarrass them.
The Worst Is Over
Let's start this off with the worst part and end with the good. My mom and dad divorced when I was very young, maybe 3 years old. I don't have many good memories of him from when he and my mom were still together. He would scold me when I would try to play with my sister and her toys, get too close to the fireplace, things like that. I guess he and my mom fought a lot but I don't remember that either. He did take care of me one night when I got really sick. When he left, my sisters and I would go see him some weekends and he would let me pick raspberries and eat them with milk and sugar for breakfast. That was the best. Our visits with him always seemed to get shorter and shorter. When I was 9 years old my mom had gotten remarried and we moved eight hours away. We still went back to visit because my grandma lived there still and we would see dad sometimes on holidays. He never called on my birthday or any holiday unless we were there visiting him we wouldn't hear anything from him. My oldest sister still lived in our home town because she was in college when we moved. My middle sister started college and my dad would go visit her sometimes for her sorority dad balls and things like that. I wasn't far but he wouldn't make the trip to see me. As the years went on, I saw him less and less but he always made time to see my sisters. Looking back now that I'm older, I didn't really make an effort to see him either. Around the time I turned 30 I made sure to call him randomly and tell him when I would be in the area so we could meet up, which sometimes happened and sometimes didn't. I don't remember exactly when, but I think it was around the time I found out my uncle was struggling with bladder cancer and it made me realize life is too short to not be with your loved ones. But that also opened up a can of worms in my heart. So I asked him the 'hard' questions. Why didn't you ever call me? Why did you visit my sister and not me? Why didn't you come to visit me when we moved away? He got really upset and told me stories about my mom that I knew were lies, such as, he tried to come see me but my mom wouldn't let him, or that his truck broke down when he planned to see me. All a bunch of crap. I told him to stay out of my life and we haven't talked since then. It's been a little over a year now and he didn't call over the holidays or my birthday which I expected. Needless to say, as a mom myself and watching my sisters become parents and finding a wonderful husband who is the best dad, I didn't always make good choices in men growing up. But I also don't completely blame my dad for that. My stepdad was also a terrible man, so I had a lot to work through to get to where I am today. More on that another time.
By Stefanie Sullivan4 years ago in Families
Paint by Numbers
I suppose it all began with the seizures. He swore he never had one while driving, but we remained skeptical. I was certain it was epilepsy. In fact, I was hoping it was. The alternative seemed so unreal, so scary. Like it couldn’t possibly happen to our family.
By Lauren Malton4 years ago in Families
Why'd It Take Me So Long To See?. Top Story - June 2022.
We all change as we get older. Yet we all have core values and personality traits that define us from early in life. My dad is a good man. One of the best I ever met. And he’s always been that way. That hasn’t changed, and it never will.
By Staci Troilo4 years ago in Families
My dad
Me and my dad had really hard times. Especially understanding eachother. Sometimes I think me and my dad are so similar we clash sometimes . But this is a story of the times I’ll never forget . My dad took me to do lots of fun things . We went to concerts and wrestling matches. He would braid my hair and paint my nails when I was younger. I remember the times in Florida when we’d come to Universal and me and my Brett never wanted to leave. But the moment I remember the most is when I got into a car accident . I will never forget the moment I saw my dad cry. The moments I always treasure are when we watched Disney movies on the couch at my grandmas. And on Christmas morning I’d wake up with everything you could ever think of . He doesn’t have the best temper . Or talk very well to people either . But there is a very special type of warmth in his heart.
By April Liao4 years ago in Families
Dad
I remember a day when my friends were over during the summer. My father was outside doing the work I said I would help with. scratch that... Actually, it was the work We said we would help with. I'm sure my dad was furious as we had not been working too well. We spent most of our time talking and something that should have taken a few hours, had probably taken us half the day. I do apologize for that.
By Zach Harwood 4 years ago in Families
Dad
I don’t know what it means to be a dad, but I know what it means to have one. It’s picking you up off the ground with a skinned knee and helping you back up onto the bike. It’s helping you with math homework when you just can’t get it. It’s those stern talks when you make bad choices. It’s all the little things and more.
By Shannon Burger4 years ago in Families
My father created a tribe.
Daddy, I don't know how you did it blind and raising thirteen of us. I know we didn't make your life all that easy at times, and I know you hate showing your pain and struggle to people. I know you've made a lot of sacrifices for us -- your children.
By Irene Mielke4 years ago in Families
A father sets the bar high for his daughter in everything.
Happy Father's Day to my Father! Thank you for being my advisor and never allowing me to settle in a marriage for less than the man you know is for me. Thank you for raising me to be choosy in a man. You and my mother always taught me to be a strong independent woman.
By Irene Mielke4 years ago in Families
