Dad dedicates first Father's Day to his daughter

  • Published
  • By Airman Brandon Heal
  • 82nd Comptroller Squadron
June 20 will be my first Father's Day.

Thus far, all the attention has been focused on my baby girl. It's strange and humbling to think that the focus will be turned to me, the proud new papa, even for a day.

Plans for this Father's Day have been kept up in the air. My only concern is to spend it with Grace. After all, I'm not a father without her. I want to spend Sunday with her--to enjoy her before she realizes there are people in the world more interesting than mom and dad.

At four months old, Grace has taught me more than I could hope to teach her. Yes, she keeps my wife and me up later than any night on the town ever did. And she makes more messes than any pet I've ever had. I'm not sure if I've bent to this little girl's will out of sheer exhaustion or because I'm so entwined by here there is no other option.

But she has taught me, more clearly than anything, to appreciate the small moments. I'm already realizing how fast these years are going to speed by. I want to be there when she first laughs, when she starts to walk. When she begins to talk, and can tell me about all the things she's discovered in the world.

And in the end, that's my job as a father: to introduce her to the world and show her how to pursue life. Or at least, how I pursued it--and sometimes give her an example of what not to do.

For now, I think I'll just celebrate that Grace's world still revolves around my wife and me, and enjoy it while it lasts.