1. Love her mom. Treat her mother with respect, honor, and
a big heaping spoonful of public displays of affection. When she grows up, the
odds are good she’ll fall in love with and marry someone who treats her much
like you treated her mother. Good or bad, that’s just the way it is. I’d prefer
good.
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| Dad's Ordination - April 2010 |
2. Always be there. Quality time doesn’t happen without
quantity time. Hang out together for no other reason than just to be in each
other’s presence. Be genuinely interested in the things that interest her. She
needs her dad to be involved in her life at every stage. Don’t just sit idly by
while she adds years to her life… add life to her years. (My Dad was always supportive of everything I did. He came to as many of my softball & basketball games and track meets, banquets, proms, etc as I can remember growing up. I was very lucky to always have him in the stands cheering for me. Him and my mother were my biggest fans)
3. Save the day. She’ll grow up looking for a hero. It
might as well be you. She’ll need you to come through for her over and over
again throughout her life. Rise to the occasion. Red cape and blue tights
optional.
4. Savor every moment you have together. Today she’s
crawling around the house in diapers, tomorrow you’re handing her the keys to
the car, and before you know it, you’re walking her down the aisle. Some day
soon, hanging out with her old man won’t be the bees knees anymore. Life
happens pretty fast. You better cherish it while you can. (Sidenote… I still love hanging
out with my Pops!)
5. Pray for her. Regularly. Passionately. Continually.
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| Dad's Ordination - April 2010 |
6. Buy her a glove and teach her to throw a baseball. Make
her proud to throw like a girl… a girl with a wicked slider.
7. She will fight with her mother. Choose sides wisely.
8. Go ahead. Buy her those pearls. (I’d rather have the cowboy boots… which I got every
single Christmas when I was little. And, I’m hoping to get again this
Christmas. One of my favorite childhood memories and something I looked forward
to every single year!)
9. Of course you look silly playing peek-a-boo. You should
play anyway.
10. Enjoy the wonder of bath time.
11. There will come a day when she asks for a puppy. Don’t
over think it. At least one time in her life, just say, “Yes.” (My Pops not only brought a puppy home for me, he brought home a goat and a pony for me! Best Dad ever?! I think so. I didn’t even have to
ask for the goat and the pony!)
12. It’s never too early to start teaching her about
money. She will still probably suck you dry as a teenager… and on her wedding
day.
13. Make pancakes in the shape of her age for breakfast on
her birthday. In a pinch, donuts with pink sprinkles and a candle will suffice.
14. Buy her a pair of Chucks as soon as she starts
walking. She won’t always want to wear matching shoes with her old man. (Chuck’s boots?! Yes please!)
15. Dance with her. Start when she’s a little girl or even
when she’s a baby. Don’t wait ‘til her wedding day. (Everyone knows my Pops is
the dancing king at any wedding reception we go to. I would never pass up a
chance to dance with him!)
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| Mandy's Wedding - July 2009 |
16. Take her fishing. She will probably squirm more than
the worm on your hook. That’s OK.
17. Learn to say no. She may pitch a fit today, but
someday you’ll both be glad you stuck to your guns.
18. Tell her she’s beautiful. Say it over and over again.
Someday an animated movie or “beauty” magazine will try to convince her
otherwise.
19. Teach her to change a flat. A tire without air need
not be a major panic inducing event in her life. She’ll still call you crying
the first time it happens. (True story…I’ve stood by many times when my Pops changed
my oil or fixed something on my Jeep. I still freaked out when it broke down on
me and yes, I called him crying.)
20. Take her camping. Immerse her in the great outdoors.
Watch her eyes fill with wonder the first time she sees the beauty of wide open
spaces. Leave the iPod at home.
21. Let her hold the wheel. She will always remember when
daddy let her drive. (My Dad let me drive the old black truck and the tractor
as soon as I was old enough to see over the wheel. Who else was going to drive
while the boys were bucking bales in the hayfield?)
22. She’s as smart as any boy. Make sure she knows that. (My Pops has always supported me 100% in my decisions throughout my education - both undergrad and graduate. My parents definitely taught me I could do anything I wanted to do if I worked for it!)
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| September 2009 |
23. When she learns to give kisses, she will want to plant
them all over your face. Encourage this practice.
24. Knowing how to eat sunflower seeds correctly will not
help her get into a good college. Teach her anyway.
25. Letting her ride on your shoulders is pure magic. Do
it now while you have a strong back and she’s still tiny.
26. It is in her nature to make music. It’s up to you to
introduce her to the joy of socks on a wooden floor.
27. If there’s a splash park near your home, take her
there often. She will be drawn to the water like a duck to a puddle.
28. She will eagerly await your return home from work in
the evenings. Don’t be late.
29. If her mom enrolls her in swim lessons, make sure you
get in the pool too. Don’t be intimidated if there are no other dads there.
It’s their loss.
30. Never miss her birthday. In ten years she won’t
remember the present you gave her. She will remember if you weren’t there.
31. Teach her to roller skate. Watch her confidence soar.
32. Let her roll around in the grass. It’s good for her
soul. It’s not bad for yours either.
33. Take her swimsuit shopping. Don’t be afraid to veto
some of her choices, but resist the urge to buy her full-body beach pajamas.
34. Somewhere between the time she turns three and her
sixth birthday, the odds are good that she will ask you to marry her. Let her
down gently. (I wonder if I ever did this? I was a major tomboy at this stage.)
35. She’ll probably want to crawl in bed with you after a
nightmare. This is a good thing.
36. Few things in life are more comforting to a crying
little girl than her father’s hand. Never forget this.
37. Introduce her to the swings at your local park. She’ll
squeal for you to push her higher and faster. Her definition of “higher and
faster” is probably not the same as yours. Keep that in mind.
38. When she’s a bit older, your definition of higher and
faster will be a lot closer to hers. When that day comes, go ahead… give it all
you’ve got.
39. Holding her upside down by the legs while she giggles
and screams uncontrollably is great for your biceps. WARNING: She has no
concept of muscle fatigue.
40. She might ask you to buy her a pony on her birthday.
Unless you live on a farm, do not buy her a pony on her birthday. It’s OK to
rent one though. (Well, I guess I can't remember if I asked or not… but my Dad did buy me a pony for my
birthday. I think I was 11 or 12. It’s okay though, because we raised horses.
Sunshine, you were a great pony! And Thanks Dad for making my dreams come
true!)
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| Early morning horse ride - Summer 2011 |
41. Take it easy on the presents for her birthday and
Christmas. Instead, give her the gift of experiences you can share together.
(This statement couldn’t be more true, and I was fortunate enough to experience
it.)
42. Let her know she can always come home. No matter what.
43. Remember, just like a butterfly, she too will spread
her wings and fly some day. Enjoy her caterpillar years.
44. Write her a handwritten letter every year on her
birthday. Give them to her when she goes off to college, becomes a mother
herself, or when you think she needs them most. (My parents still write long
letters in my birthday cards every year. I love this and hope this never
changes.)
45. Learn to trust her. Gradually give her more freedom as
she gets older. She will rise to the expectations you set for her.
46. When in doubt, trust your heart. She already does.
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| Easter - 2011 |
47. When your teenage daughter is upset, learning when to
engage and when to back off will add years to YOUR life. If you succeed in
doing this, tell me how.
48. Ice cream covers over a multitude of sins. Know her
favorite flavor.
49. This day is coming soon. There’s nothing you can do to
be ready for it. The sooner you accept this fact, the easier it will be.
50. Today she’s walking down the driveway to get on the school
bus. Tomorrow she’s going off to college. Don’t blink.
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By: Michael Mitchell
This is so awesome!
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