I bet you never planned on playing on watching Disney Princess movies every night before bed. I'm sure you never thought you'd have to help deliver Girl Scout Cookies or learn how to blow-dry hair. The fact of the matter is, no one really plans on having to learn these things, and I'm sure up until the moment the doctor said "It's a girl," you were fantasizing about throwing a football around the backyard and coaching the little league baseball team with your dream son.
Though you never got have a son of your own, I know there's not an ounce of regret in your heart.
You always said, "There's nothing that I could have done with sons that I haven't gotten to do with daughters."
You never made us feel like we weren't enough.
I remember hearing the tone in peoples' voices when someone would make mention that you have three daughters. It was sort of a "You poor guy." kind of thing, but you always smiled and nodded politely, because you knew something they didn't. Having daughters was pretty awesome.
You were the first example of what a man should be to us. Your strength and advice pulled us through the endless strife that comes with raising a family. There were dark times, times that I thought would never end, but both you and mom persevered and assured as that regardless of all else, we would always have each other, and there's an endless amount of comfort in knowing that someone has always got your back, no matter what. That's what you raised our family to be: a support system.
Looking back on the most trying times, I'm not sure what we would have done without you. It must have been scary having to be the strong one, only letting your strength waver when you lost parents of your own. It was difficult to watch your heart break with mourning. I've always said there's nothing worse than seeing your dad cry, but of course, we pulled through together, supporting each other every step of the way, just like you raised us to.
Sometimes I can't wrap my head around how lucky we got to have a dad who took as good care of us as you did. There are children all over the world who dream of someday having a dad around to lean on and bond with, children who sit up at night and pray for a man to take care of them and love them. What did we ever do to deserve a man like you?
One of my favorite parts of my childhood is the fact that you and mom didn't raise us in a patriarchal household. You worked as a team and had equal levels of responsibility. You made it a point to show us girls that mom worked just as hard as you did to provide for us, and that brought me up with the mentality that I can do anything boys can do, as long as I worked hard and stayed persistent. I feel like more little girls should be raised that way.
As I get older I've become more aware of the sacrifices you made and the chances you took in hopes of being able to constantly provide us with a happy, healthy life.
You did so well, Dad. I don't tell you enough, but you've done such a good job at being everything I needed out of a father.
You've been a coach, a teacher, a chauffeur, a reprimander, a storyteller, a shoulder to cry on, a best friend, a loving husband, and most importantly, the best dad I could have ever asked for. Thanks for being so good to all of the women in your life.