To all the fathers out there, like myself, who struggle with connecting with their daughters — older or younger, girls are complicated people (if you were ever married, you know what I mean). When my wife and I split up it was tough, not only on me but on my children as well. You go from seeing your child’s smiling face every day to once or twice a week and every other weekend if you’re lucky. I quickly learned that you have to take advantage of every single chance you get. Spend time with them, talk to them, be involved in everything they do. Because I have girls, we have “daddy daughter days” — and before you think that just means dance class or the playground, it doesn’t. I take my girls on a real date, one on one. Maybe the park, dinner, painting, shopping — but always intentional, always present. You don’t have to spend a lot of money for it to be a great time. The first time I had a daddy daughter date with my oldest, I looked up the florist’s Victoria locations on my phone, found the nearest one on the way to her place, and walked out with a bouquet she carried the entire night like it was made of glass. We went and got our nails done — because they do better than I do — and ended up at her favorite place, Chick-fil-A. To see her eyes light up just from spending time with her dad was everything.
at the end of the day, you are your child’s dad and every child needs a dad. us single dads sometimes get that bad image on us because we are a “dead beat” or we dont care because we aren’t with our child every day. I love my children just like every other dad out there. It was out of my hands for me not being able to see them every day. MAKE THE MOST OF THE TIME YOU GET. put your phone away and talk to your kids play with them. Before you know it they will be moving out and starting a family of there own. you dont want to regret the time missed. Be creative and have fun. it will be memories i know that my kids will never forget and i hope to always be able to do daddy daughter days even when they are grown up.
hug your kids and hold them tight. tell them you love them way to much. dont be afraid about doing something because “you are a man and men dont do nails or hair”. dont let your ego get so big that you wont dance like a idiot in public to make your kids laugh. Be the father you know your child deserves.
most importantly, HAVE FUN!