The man who you first love in life is usually your father. He is supposed to be protective of your family and you. Most likely the person to tuck you into bed at night and always say, "Good night, beautiful." Growing up with a firefighter as a father was a difficult thing. It would be like any other public service job like military, law enforcement, etc. I remember the simple things whether you were able to see your dad the next morning or not.

Holidays were the toughest thing in my household. When we were younger, my dad usually was able to have the big holidays off to be with us. Holidays are still involved with the schedule of a firefighter. Even holidays at the fire station are fun! Possibly even trying on dad's bunker gear while visiting is fun.

One thing I have learned over the past few years would be never to take things for granted. Sometimes my dad and I can butt heads, but I've been told that I would never know when the last time I could say "Good bye" to him. If we do butt heads, I always try to apologize for butting heads. I remember the moment my mom texted me saying that my dad had gotten hurt at work. I freaked out thinking the worst. He ended up being OK, but it's still the idea of losing my dad on the job that I have learned to always make sure I say "I love you" before he leaves for work the next morning.

Growing up and listening to the stories that my dad has told me makes me proud of the man I call my dad. A poem written by Whitney Rubendall stood out to me because she is a firefighter's daughter as well. I understand every word that she has written because I have experienced the same thing that she has. My dad is the bravest man I know, just like any other firefighters who risk their lives for us, or even have been killed in the line of duty. In Kansas City last October, two firefighters were killed in a fire. Reading the articles last year broke my heart because children lost their fathers. So many emotions run through my mind when my dad is at work and it sucks because I usually am the person that thinks about the worst.

A Firefighter's Daughter

My Dad is a firefighter

One of the bravest men in the land

He took me to the station as a kid,

There was no better place to be with him

I learned about the hoses, pumps, and tools

I even clumped around in his turnout gear

He isn't always able to be there for me,

Not when duty calls

My friends all ask

"Where's your Dad?"

I get the chance to proudly say,

"He's fighting a fire."

Sometimes, it's hard to not have him there

Family Thanksgiving meals,

And Dad's pager goes off

For all the time's he hasn't been there,

For all those midnight calls,

All the times he's had to go,

To fight the fire, to spot for storms

When he wasn't there to hold me,

And stay the fear in my soul,

I knew he was somewhere,

Saving someone's dreams

All those calls,

Through all these years,

When I would stand at the door,

And wait for him to come home,

Holding the pager in my hand,

Listening and praying for only good chatter,

I grew to understand,

That's what my Dad was trained to do,

His turnout gear doesn't fit, even now,

I'm still too small to wear it,

But when I do,

I remember that there is nothing better in the world

Then being a firefighter's daughter