When reflecting upon being a father, all I could think of is, “Why didn’t I do this sooner?”
A few years ago, I heard The City of Arlington’s Parks and Recreation hosts an annual Daddy Daughter Dance. For a while, I imagined what it would feel like to bring my little girl to this event, if I had a daughter. I imagined her standing on my feet as we danced together to silly little children's songs and her looking up at me with that cute little smile telling me how much she loves me.
...when I get home, my Melody lifts her head and greets me with the warmest smile...
My wife and I contemplated for years on whether we wanted to have kids or not, but on January 28th, 2014, almost 7 years after we got married, Melody Rose, my daughter and my date to the dance, was born.
Every day when I get home, my Melody lifts her head and greets me with the warmest smile that's ever pierced my heart. When I scoop her up and hold her tight in that first hug, I feel I am connecting with a part of my very essence. My daughter.
It's hard to imagine how much time has already gone by since she was born. She has doubled in size, grown more hair and is both learning to talk and walk. It was only yesterday I could measure her whole body from the tip of my fingers to my elbow.
Granted, she's still too small to stand on my feet at the Daddy Daughter Dance, but this will still be a wonderful experience: dancing with her and remembering the day of her birth that changed my life forever. I can imagine making this a regular thing between us as I take my little girl out to Daddy Daughter Dance to show her off and treat her like a proper little lady to create that wonderful bond between father and daughter. Yep, it’s going to happen!
I’ll be there, and if you’re a dad looking to give your little princess that one special night, I highly recommend joining me! You can choose either January 30th or the 31st at the Bob Duncan Center. It should be easy to find me – I’ll be the one dancing with the cutest girl in the room!
