Happy Fathers' Day 2020

When father gets home

He’s gonna be mad

Nah, he’s my dad.

Need a few bucks

For a mitt and some pads

I’ll just ask my dad.

Borrow the car

For a night out lad

I’ll get the keys from my dad

Given a choice of any other pop

No need to ponder good and bad

I’d choose my very own dad

Looking back over time

It makes me glad

To know he’s the one I had

  

Fathers’ Day Reflection

I’ve said it a million times. Moms get the throw-away “Thanks Mom” and secretly smile. They selflessly forge ahead knowing how invaluable they truly are (we hope they know). After all, without Mom you got nothing. I like to say “Thanks Mom” every time I encounter the mention of moms (mine, yours, every mom - past present and future).

But as I consider father’s day 2020, I’ve lived long enough to see my own kids as parents and I am astounded how wonderful they are. I love dem kids (and I love their kids too).  

My daughter has been a camp counsellor and youth group director fine-tuning her maternal skills with remarkable compassion and empathy for years. Her mom (my wife) is legendary. She is the sort of mom who demands accountability from teachers, coaches and anyone else who might be on the guiding path for our kids. Being a mom comes so naturally to my daughter. It’s no wonder that her 4 year old is a showman, a swimmer, and an expressive communicator. He has a high motor, the kind organizations look for in potential team leaders. My daughter credits me with a beautiful array of influences to her creative energy from technique of the week to nonsense poetry. But she knows how important her mom has been especially now that she is navigating the hopes and dreams of a toddler who is growing up so fast.

I am also the father of a remarkable father. I’ve witnessed my son in some most imaginative play with his boy who will be 4 in December. When his boy was a newborn we smiled at the miracle of birth even as the streets outside the hospital were covered in ice. His mom promised not to let the celebration of his birth get lost in the annual shuffle around the December holiday season. I could not help telling my boy what a great father he was as he changed diapers and coaxed delightful giggles from their baby boy. My son was quick to respond “I learned from the best.” Aww shucks, that makes me smile even years after I first heard him say it.