A few weeks ago, when I had finally climbed into bed after a long night of homework, I heard a noise downstairs and started to tense up. But then I remembered--like I always have for the past twelve years--that my dad was right down the hall. So I turned on my side and went to sleep.
I am only just beginning to realize that I am one of the few girls who still sees her dad as the strongest guy in the whole world. For the longest time, I thought that was every little girl. But the older I got, the more I saw that most girls didn't see their dad as superman the way I did and still do. It wasn't just in the sense of brute strength (anyone who has seen my dad knows he's not exactly 6'10 or 300 pounds), but my dad has always been an unconquearble tower in my eyes because of his character, because of the way he walked the walk in a manner that I could only hope to mimic one day. You see, although I myself am not a man (I know my muscles may make it seem otherwise), my dad taught me what it meant to be one. A man isn't someone with giant muscles and a macho, overly confident attitude. A man is someone who will take in a daughter that isn't his own and love her better than if she was. A man is someone that isn't afraid to stand up for what is right, regardless of the consequences. A man is someone that isn't afraid to show that he has a heart, emotions, and can be caring and kind. A man is someone that loves God. My father is the best testament to manhood that I have ever come across.
My dad is silent and strong. I can honestly say that I don't think I've ever heard him complain once. There are so many times when I have made him late for work because I am slower than a turtle in the morning (but somehow I can still be awake enough to talk his ear off on the short five minute drive to work) and never once has he lost his temper at me for it. And I'll be the first to admit, I am a difficult daughter. I am stubborn, scatterbrained, messy, opinionated, and at times, completely irrational. But my father's patience astounds me. He listens to my petty dilemmas and treats them as seriously as he would a client whose life was falling apart. Sometimes I will have said something and look over at my dad who is completely silent, and I think he's tuning me out, only to have him give his take on the situation five minutes later. That's my dad. He's patient, cautious, and thorough.
I remember one day in the middle of my junior year, I was hysterical because my grades weren't where I wanted them to be and it seemed that no matter how hard I tried, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do it. And my dad looked over at me and said "Samar, you're doing it. You're doing it right now." And he probably didn't realize it, but it meant the world to me to know that he was my biggest supporter, that he would be cheering for me no matter what the event was. My whole life he's protected me wholeheartedly and determinedly, and he's managed to somehow let me stumble and learn my own lessons all while he was still guiding me. Sometimes I'll say something, or relate my opinion on something and he'll press his lips together and stay silent. And in his unspoken language, I know that means that I wasn't being benevolent or open-minded enough in my perspective or actions. My father has never once told me what to believe or who to be, but I've picked up invaluable lessons on character from just watching him be him. There are no attempts to teach or "be a role model" in the way my father has lived his life. It's always been just him simply trying to be the best he can be, and that is probably what inspires me the most every single day.
In all of the thousands of yellings and groundings from my mom, it was the calm patience of my dad's that made me feel the guiltiest. My dad has yelled at me probably like five times in my entire life, but everyday he teaches me something new in his own silent language. It's his unspoken acts of love like pulling into Jewel to let me buy BBQ chips after I tell him I've had the worst week ever, or tolerating my out of tune, offbeat singing along to the radio every time we are in the car together. It's the way he comes home after a long day of work and still manages to be energetic and wrestle and talk football with my brother and listen to my mom talk about her day or help her around the house. If my family is a bed of flowers, my father is the soil that holds us all rooted together. And I hope that one day I will be lucky enough to find someone just like him (minus the ever growing belly and love for fishing and lame jokes preferably).
So to the man who is my best friend, my number one fan, my inspiration, and my hero, happy father's day. I love you.
I guess what I'm trying to say, is that fatherhood isn't just changing diapers and walking your daughter down the aisle. It's all the moments in between. And as obvious as it seems, that means that when you're really tired and all you want to do is watch the game on T.V., you sit down and talk to your daughter instead. Or when you're in a really bad mood and the last thing you want to do is give your daughter a ride somewhere, do it anyways and do it with patience and love and understanding. As John Mayer says: "Fathers be good to your daughters, for daughters will love like you do."
~Samar
I am only just beginning to realize that I am one of the few girls who still sees her dad as the strongest guy in the whole world. For the longest time, I thought that was every little girl. But the older I got, the more I saw that most girls didn't see their dad as superman the way I did and still do. It wasn't just in the sense of brute strength (anyone who has seen my dad knows he's not exactly 6'10 or 300 pounds), but my dad has always been an unconquearble tower in my eyes because of his character, because of the way he walked the walk in a manner that I could only hope to mimic one day. You see, although I myself am not a man (I know my muscles may make it seem otherwise), my dad taught me what it meant to be one. A man isn't someone with giant muscles and a macho, overly confident attitude. A man is someone who will take in a daughter that isn't his own and love her better than if she was. A man is someone that isn't afraid to stand up for what is right, regardless of the consequences. A man is someone that isn't afraid to show that he has a heart, emotions, and can be caring and kind. A man is someone that loves God. My father is the best testament to manhood that I have ever come across.
My dad is silent and strong. I can honestly say that I don't think I've ever heard him complain once. There are so many times when I have made him late for work because I am slower than a turtle in the morning (but somehow I can still be awake enough to talk his ear off on the short five minute drive to work) and never once has he lost his temper at me for it. And I'll be the first to admit, I am a difficult daughter. I am stubborn, scatterbrained, messy, opinionated, and at times, completely irrational. But my father's patience astounds me. He listens to my petty dilemmas and treats them as seriously as he would a client whose life was falling apart. Sometimes I will have said something and look over at my dad who is completely silent, and I think he's tuning me out, only to have him give his take on the situation five minutes later. That's my dad. He's patient, cautious, and thorough.
I remember one day in the middle of my junior year, I was hysterical because my grades weren't where I wanted them to be and it seemed that no matter how hard I tried, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do it. And my dad looked over at me and said "Samar, you're doing it. You're doing it right now." And he probably didn't realize it, but it meant the world to me to know that he was my biggest supporter, that he would be cheering for me no matter what the event was. My whole life he's protected me wholeheartedly and determinedly, and he's managed to somehow let me stumble and learn my own lessons all while he was still guiding me. Sometimes I'll say something, or relate my opinion on something and he'll press his lips together and stay silent. And in his unspoken language, I know that means that I wasn't being benevolent or open-minded enough in my perspective or actions. My father has never once told me what to believe or who to be, but I've picked up invaluable lessons on character from just watching him be him. There are no attempts to teach or "be a role model" in the way my father has lived his life. It's always been just him simply trying to be the best he can be, and that is probably what inspires me the most every single day.
In all of the thousands of yellings and groundings from my mom, it was the calm patience of my dad's that made me feel the guiltiest. My dad has yelled at me probably like five times in my entire life, but everyday he teaches me something new in his own silent language. It's his unspoken acts of love like pulling into Jewel to let me buy BBQ chips after I tell him I've had the worst week ever, or tolerating my out of tune, offbeat singing along to the radio every time we are in the car together. It's the way he comes home after a long day of work and still manages to be energetic and wrestle and talk football with my brother and listen to my mom talk about her day or help her around the house. If my family is a bed of flowers, my father is the soil that holds us all rooted together. And I hope that one day I will be lucky enough to find someone just like him (minus the ever growing belly and love for fishing and lame jokes preferably).
So to the man who is my best friend, my number one fan, my inspiration, and my hero, happy father's day. I love you.
I guess what I'm trying to say, is that fatherhood isn't just changing diapers and walking your daughter down the aisle. It's all the moments in between. And as obvious as it seems, that means that when you're really tired and all you want to do is watch the game on T.V., you sit down and talk to your daughter instead. Or when you're in a really bad mood and the last thing you want to do is give your daughter a ride somewhere, do it anyways and do it with patience and love and understanding. As John Mayer says: "Fathers be good to your daughters, for daughters will love like you do."
~Samar
i loved it. personally for me too my parents are my inspiration, but my dad esp takes it more ahead, with he over the top care and concern, love and his habit of fulfilling all our wishes. believe me at 20 my dad is my superhero - more of a batman though..
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