Daddy

"I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection."- Sigmund Freud


According to the US Census Bureau, the percentage of American children living in mother-only families has increased 5-fold since 1950. Children reared in single-parent families are more likely to suffer depression and struggle with learning difficulties. They are twice as likely to drop out of school. As adults, fatherless children experience statistically fewer educational achievements and economic opportunities. They are also more likely to have trouble forming long-lasting, intimate relationships.

These are all facts about fathers that I found on the internet this morning which led me to think what on earth my life would be like if I had been raised in mother only family. Know what I came up with? Nothing. I absolutely couldn't even imagine it. My father (and mother for that matter, but she's already had her day ;^) is so very intertwined into my life that it couldn't possibly even be close to the same life if he was not in it. It's not even immaginable.

So, no, I have not suffered from much depression or many learning difficulties and no, I never dropped out of school. Although not a scholar or millionare, I have achieved moderate educational achievements and usually manage to make the ends meet every month. And, even though I am not married or in any long-lasting relationship with a man, I know enough about life to know that I have a plethera of long lasting, intimate relationships. More than most people find in their lifetimes and I'm only 27! More importantly though, I think my dad has done more than that.

My dad taught me how to ride a bike, shoot a basketball, tie my shoes, to get up after I fall down, to always remember who I am and Whose I am, to love my family over all except God, to be proud of who I am and where I come from, to love the Braves and Vols football, how important friends are, how to trust, and how to be trustworthy. These are just a few of the things he taught me, I could obviously go on forever. But, I think these things and the fact that no matter what I have done or how I feel my dad has instilled in me that I can always talk to God and to him, are way more important than any educational opportunities or even my ability to form long lasting relationships.

So, this blog is just to officially post how much I love and appreciate my dad. For that matter, my Daddy and my PaPa. And, for the almost nineteen years that I was lucky enough to have my Granddaddy around I appreciated him and still appreciate what he was to my life. I hope that everyone who reads this is as blessed as I am to have wonderful "fathers" around and remember them on this day and to thank God for them!