My little girl was reading her high school handbook last night.
Her high school handbook.
She just came home from the hospital wrapped in a blanket, all shiny and new, and now she’ll be off to high school in a few short weeks. The most tumultuous years of her life (I hope they’re not, but let’s face reality) await her and I can do nothing but wait to hear about them when she gets home at night. This is my role and I accept it.
But I sure as hell don’t like it.
To say I’m proud of my daughter would be a gross understatement; she has become a person I genuinely look forward to spending time with. She has become my…
- Movie Buddy.
- New Comic Book Day Companion. (Wednesdays rule!)
- Supernatural Sidekick. (The TV show, not the occult lifestyle!)
The list goes on… But for how long? These last few years have truly been the “Golden Years” – some o f the best of my life, in fact – but that’s because they have had a finite lifespan, as it should be. If something doesn’t evolve, it dies. We must be children and endure the trials of childhood in order to test our mettle and choose the path we wish to walk in adulthood.
Great things lie ahead for my daughter, of that I have no doubt; she is a budding author whose work will blow mine away in no time. Her victories will be legion, this I know… just as I know I’ll be experiencing some bittersweet “parenting pains” watching them unfold.
*sniffle* I can see that day looming for my eldest son too. Last week was his first day at kinder and now he is nearly as tall as me. It is just not right, is it!
So happy that you and your daughter have a great relationship, those things are so important, even when the bonds are sorely tested as they are growing up.
Well said, my friend.
Awww Mister The Hook!!!
Keep those lines of communication open, and make sure you tell her every once in a while what you wrote here and how you feel about who she is becoming. There is nothing worse than being told from everyone that your father knew what he thought of you but never having heard it yourself. For you don’t really beleive it when you hear it from others.
Please be sure to pass on a huge good luck from me to your daughter and Mrs The Hook as well. I cannot wait to read the blog post of her bringing home her boyfriend to meet dad!!!
We have time before that happens – I hope!
You never know!!!
Oh Lordy, there’s that boyfriend comment…. I’ve just been here only with teenage boys and drinking, it’ll be fun and so long as you keep communication open, you’ll both, all be fine.
Let’s hope so!
They grow up so fast! Sounds like the Apple didn’t fall far from the tree, in the best possible ways. What a blessing.
Thanks!
You lost me at “My little girl”.
Will attempt composing a non-blubbering-mess reply when I’ve regained composure.
Kate
Pull yourself together, Kate! You’ll be fine..
Right. I’m thinking coherently now. So here goes.
>My little girl
- As soon I as read these words, I knew I would turn into a sappy mess.
>was reading her high school handbook last night.
- Oh, Hooks’ going to rant about some of the rules, I thought. Nope. That wasn’t it. *This* was:
>Her high school handbook.
- Hook’s getting growing pains. So of course,
>She just came home from the hospital wrapped in a blanket, all shiny and new,
- *sniff* It’s amazing how much some parents remember of the day their children were born.
>and now she’ll be off to high school in a few short weeks.
>The most tumultuous years of her life (I hope they’re not, but let’s face reality) await her
- As always, optimism tempered with realism.
>and I can do nothing but wait to hear about them when she gets home at night.
- These ‘Can’t-wait-to-my-parents-all’ times will be great!
>This is my role and I accept it.
- Only a fool will be fooled by the seeming simplicity of these words.
>But I sure as hell don’t like it.
- Now there’s the Hook I know!
>To say I’m proud of my daughter would be a gross understatement; she has become a person I genuinely look forward to spending time with.
- I’ll second Woman’s comment above:
“There is nothing worse than being told from everyone that your father knew what he thought of you but never having heard it yourself.”
So good on you for raving about your little girl right now.
>She has become my…
>Movie Buddy.
>New Comic Book Day Companion. (Wednesdays rule!)
>Supernatural Sidekick. (The TV show, not the occult lifestyle!)
- Wa-hay!
Wait. Do you know how rad a dad that makes you, Hook?
>The list goes on… But for how long?
>These last few years have truly been the “Golden Years” – some o f the best of my life, in fact – but that’s because they have had a finite lifespan, as it should be.
- You are lucky you realise your limited time. Suck the marrow outta it! Oh yeah. You’re doing it already.
>If something doesn’t evolve, it dies. We must be children and endure the trials of childhood in order to test our mettle and choose the path we wish to walk in adulthood.
- Secure in and emboldened with the knowledge of our parents helicopter-ing at a respectable distance.
>Great things lie ahead for my daughter, of that I have no doubt; she is a budding author whose work will blow mine away in no time. Her victories will be legion, this I know… just as I know I’ll be experiencing some bittersweet “parenting pains” watching them unfold.
- Ah, bittersweet, thou art the flavour of life!
“The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” ~ Denis Waitley (American motivational speaker and author of self-help books. Born 1933.)
You and Yo’Lady have done your bit.
From one Daddy’s girl to another – Grab life by the horns and run like the wind, Sarah!
Kate
I’m sure she will, Kate! Thanks for always being such a great friend and reader.
I need to find some situation in which I can use the phrase “occult lifestyle”. Seriously though, congratulations on being a good dad, New Comic day sounds like an awesome thing.
It sure is!