When someone meets my dad for the first time, there are two comments I usually get. The first one is, "OMG, your dad is a six feet tall."
After they have a five-minute conversation, they typically realize that giant is a life-sized teddy bear! After the friendly chat comes to an end, they always tend to say: "OMG, I'm obsessed with your dad."
I often don't realize how lucky I am to have a father like you. When I was little, I thought that everyone had a dad who was supportive and caring, but, when I grew up, I realized that not everyone has a father figure like the one who I have been blessed with. You never fail to be a shoulder to lean on during the tough times and an amazing supporter of my achievements. I believe that I have taken advantage of your presence and I don't tell you enough how much you are appreciated.
The older that I get, the smarter that you seem to be. You have taught me many lessons along the way and here are just a few that I am thankful for.
You taught me the rules.
Six syllables, two words, one meaning: choices and consequences. If I had to take one lesson that you have taught me over the past 20 years, these two words come to mind. Whether I was a toddler or teenager, you made it clear that I should think wisely about my actions before completing them. No matter how many times I have rolled my eyes while you smirk and repeat the two golden words, I can't thank you enough for drilling them into my head at such a young age. Even though I am still learning to accept the consequences of my actions, your guidance has taught me that every situation in life is a lesson to learn, reflect on, and overcome. You have helped me become the woman who I have always wanted to be. Some people tend to let words go through one ear and out the other, but thanks for giving me two important words that will never be
You showed me how I should be treated.
The daddy vs boyfriend relationship is an emotional topic for every father. No dad wants to see their little girl get hurt from actions that are formed by another man. Luckily, I have been observing your actions since day one and it has kept my standards high. I may have scars from heartbreak, but even when I find my Prince Charming, I will still have you looking out for me.
You gave me your humor.
Laughing is something that has always been encouraged in our household, but, out of my family of five, you definitely have the most obnoxious laugh of all. Whether you're singing the Tigger theme song to cheer me up or poking fun at my words that came out wrong, thanks for teaching me that it's acceptable to laugh at yourself. You have showed me that not everything has to be serious all of the time and that it's okay to add humor to lighten up tough situations. Your sense of humor is something that I cherish because, in a world with so much negativity, I have learned from you to always keep laughing.
You showed me how to become successful.
As I have gotten older, I have come to notice how hard you worked to give me a luxurious life. I am beyond blessed with childhood memories in destinations that some people never get the opportunity to see. You gave me more than I could have ever asked for. Now that I have gotten older, I have realized the sacrifices that you made for our family. Your work might have gone unnoticed when I was a child, but it is now one of the main reasons why I am motivated to study an hour longer for an exam.
Even though you were exhausted from a long day of work, you never failed to make room to pick me up from practice, attend my gymnastics meets, or take me out for ice cream. Your work ethic reminds me that anything that's worth having won’t come easy. You inspire me to continue to pursue my dreams, but also to not forget to slow down and just enjoy a lazy morning watching HDTV. If I ever become half has successful as you are, I know that I'll be OK.
Having a close relationship with your parents is a gift that many people take advantage of. Thank you for putting up with my sass, my embarrassing you on snap chat, and loving me during the times when my actions are hard to love. You’re the greatest guy I know and you always know how to make my day a little bit brighter. Thanks for always being my number one guy to go to for anything. No matter what age I am, I'll always be your little girl. Even though I have outgrown your lap, I'll never outgrow your heart.
