Happy father's day to all...dads and children..
My dad has been gone 21 years, but I remember him today, like most days, really. He was an amazing spirit.
Everyday was special with him...he was hilarious, creative, kind and bright.
He made any "mistake" into something special, like the time he waited for us (the family) to get to a vacation cabin, to which he did not have the key (he had come from the city after work). He waited for hours and hours and then left us the most hysterical note, totally toungue in cheek, about hoping sand got in our sandwiches and how he just wasn't sure when he would be back! My mom kept that forever.
So I remember his ability to turn uncomfortable situations, that most people would complain about, into something positive.
When he was dying, he tape recorded his voice doing a "game show" as a host with a yiddish accent, asking the most hilarious questions with multiple choice answers. It is hard to hear, as the lymphoma had pretty much taken over everything, including his vocal chords, but through it, you hear his ability to turn even his death, into something uplifting, and beautiful.
My kids will spend the day with thier dad, as they are with him right now. But ironically, they will come over here to pickup/wrap up his presents that they made or bought. I try not to get upset by it anymore, but look at this in a sad way:
I always assist them by giving them opportunities to buy or help them make creative presents for their dad so THEY will not feel icky on father's day. It's not something their step mother assists them with. But on mother's day, they do it themselves or have little time to prepare or make something if they have been with their father beforehand, and then end up feeling bad that they feel ill prepared. They don't even approach dad with helping on this.
Personally, on mother's day, I just like having them around, having them pitch in around the house without nagging....and that usually happens....along with lots of sweetness.
Ok, so maybe I still have some feelings about that. ..for me, then, father's day is FOR MY KIDS to feel good, really.
Once, after telling a funny story about my dad, my daughter said she was sad that she would never have that kind of dad.
But today is for her to feel good about the dad she has....so let's go with that.