Dear Future Son or Daughter,

I just finished my first year of college and one day, as I was walking back to my dorm hall with a dear friend of mine, the thought that the days and years are passing me by suddenly hit me. I am not getting any younger and with each birthday that passes me by, I begin to realize how much more real life is becoming for me.

I am giving up my summer vacation to work, work, work and spending my free time quenching my intellectual thirst for knowledge, so that I am right on track once I return to college for my second year.

I know what some people may be thinking, “I am still a child myself,” which is true.

However, this past year has taught me that the person that I am developing into, the decisions I make, the lessons I learn, the morals and values I hold, and most of all the person that I will one day meet that will become my lifelong companion and your other parent will all play a very vital role in your life someday.

One day, the day will come where I will teach you the all-important life lesson of hard work. Your grandparents have worked incredibly hard to assure that I have the best life possible. I am not perfect, I am making some mistakes, in the hopes that you do not make the same mistakes I have.

I huff and I puff whenever I spend more time at work on my summer vacation or miss a social affair to study for an exam, but I know that these small sacrifices will not only help to advance and benefit me as a person, but these small sacrifices will someday benefit you in some way.

There are a number of family traditions that I cannot wait to pass down to you. Because you will one day be a member of our family, Christmas and Thanksgiving will become your favorite holidays. There are a number of children’s books that grandma has read to prior to going to bed each night, that I cannot wait to sit you on my lap and read to you. I hope you enjoy these narratives as much as I do.

Aside from being your parent someday in the future, I hope you also few me as a friend of yours. No matter what, no matter how awful or terrific the situation may be, you will always have me in your corner. I will support you in all of your decisions and I will serve as your biggest fan.

Although, we will not meet for at least another decade, maybe even more, I want to remind you of one last thing…

No matter who you become and no matter which path you decide to take in life after you “flee the nest,” you will always have a person that you can count one for an intense amount of love.

Until the day we meet,

"Dad."