Happy Father’s Day

Happy Father’s Day to all my fellow dads out there in blog-land!

Father’s Day plays second fiddle, I think, when compared to the more prominent Mother’s Day. Or another way of looking at it: It’s the toolmaker’s answer to the florist and Hallmark community!

I guess tools are a good Father’s Day gift. Sure beats grilling aprons and flashy ties (Personally, I have never WORN a grilling apron). Then again, my tool chest is pretty full, too. So, a nice restful day watching a ballgame was a pretty good treat for me!

So, even if Father’s Day DOES get second billing, it’s still pretty good, right?

Earlier, I took my dad a nice breakfast and we spent some quality time together before the day became TOO hectic. I think he’d appreciate THAT more than a “Kiss the cook!” garment. A gift card for one of his favorite restaurants – so he and my mom can enjoy a nice meal on the town – seemed to be a better gift, too.

In terms of gifts, the TRUE gift of Father’s Day is fatherhood itself. I can definitely say that is true. Being a dad, for me, changed everything. I’ve told Holly countless times that her arrival changed me (for the better, I think).

Flash back to before she was born and you’ll find a hot-shot young P.R. professional who thought he knew it all. I logged a great number of professional accomplishments during that phase of my life but I think I was probably full of myself – a true know it all.

But the combination of going back to grad school and changing more than just a few diapers really burnished off those rough edges. Gone was the climb the ladder hyper-political yuppie and in his place was, well, me.

Coach Jeff.

[Some might argue that I’m still not that likeable. ;-) ]

There is some suggestion that the change that takes place is not completely coincidental. There might actually be some scientific/chemical/physiological changes that take place when a guy becomes a dad.

I’ve also heard an old wives tale that when a dad sees his baby for the first time, he sees his face on the tiny newborn. I can attest to this fact. When Holly was born, there was my face…on the little body of a tiny tot.

Now, I ask you…do you see that now? Not on this pretty face! But, the day she was born, I swore it was true. Wives tale? Coincidence? Or some sort of chemically-induced state that creates an instant bonding?  And with instant bonding comes all those dad-related responsibilities.

We teach. We preach. We worry. We hug. We love.

And we are much better for it.

Anyway, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. It’s a big part of how I become who I am today. Today. Father’s Day.

I hope you all have a good one. I plan to!

JG 

(Source: commercialappeal.com)

Originally posted 6/17/2012