In my first year here at the Weyburn Review, in June of 1995, I wrote a column for Father鈥檚 Day, entitled, 鈥淲hy I鈥檓 a Daddy鈥�.
I won鈥檛 reprint the whole thing here, but there were some interesting comments I made then as the parent of four young children, the oldest of whom was a 鈥渂right and articulate six-year-old鈥� in kindergarten, at Elgin School (the last year it operated as a school).
鈥淲hen I come through the door at the end of the day, it鈥檚 worth all the heartache and frustration and tiredness to hear running feet and the cries of, 鈥楧addy! Daddy鈥檚 here!鈥�, followed by their small upturned faces and arms reaching up for a hug or to be picked up.鈥�
I described about the joys of reading stories and cuddling them, but I also pointed out that being a Dad wasn鈥檛 all warm fuzzies.
鈥淭here are times those same sweet faces look steadfastly at you and tell you a flat 鈥榥o鈥� when they鈥檙e told to do something,鈥� I noted, not to mention the times of tears.
I spoke of 鈥溾�� the episodes of waking up in the middle of the night and crying inconsolably. I stumble to them in the dark and hold them, and sometimes they say whey they鈥檙e upset, while at other times they just want to sit and cry and be held, and that鈥檚 all right.鈥�
I said at the end of that column that I knew there was more to come in my role as father.
鈥淚 know this is only the very beginning. There are more and bigger challenges ahead, as we live and care for our small ones, we hope they鈥檒l still be with us when they reach their teenage-hood and bring the many changes and stresses inherent to that age.鈥�
Looking back from the other side, with all of my children now adults and the bright and articulate six-year-old now 31, and living with her sisters in a house in Regina along with their cats, I can say that there were challenges, but also good times with each of them.
Even the kids are all adults, I still love them and worry about them, and about the choices they are making in their lives.
I know I wasn鈥檛 always the greatest dad, and I made mistakes in raising them, as I鈥檓 sure all fathers have in their own families 鈥� but it was all worth it, every minute.
They are each making their own way in their lives, and each one has their strengths, their struggles, their loves and amazing talents.
I am hoping they will continue to make good choices and to be good people who will do good, and even great, things in their lives 鈥� and yes, I was blessed and privileged to be their dad.
