Ode to Dads...

To all those dads out there who are fearless:

• He who is not scared of a little old messy diaper
• Who will not be intimidated by a sink full of dishes
• One that won't run away from a pile of dirty laundry

One that can remain calm in a time of crisis:

• Suppressing that smile when the doll's head falls off
• Letting go of that two wheeler even though you are getting yelled at NOT to by the 5 year old
• Balancing the budget and pulling out funds that didn't exist so that the buck toothed cutie pie can have a lovely smile

Showing a keen ability to remain gentle and firm:

• When setting that curfew even though all the other kids are staying out later
• When it's time to have that conversation about those good old birds and bees and laying the groundwork for your own morality
• Not backing down on a punishment doled out as it will teach consequences for their actions later in life

Having utmost character and strength:

• Visibly shedding a tear without regret during a moment of sadness
• To be able to face a conflict of interest head on to let your child know that something they've done is wrong
• Being able to dole out an apology when you realize that your child might have actually been right after all

Showing a relentless, yet loving respect for women

• Keeping that parental united front no matter how tough it might be
• Unabashedly able to hold your spouse's hand and accept or deliver a simple kiss
• Correcting a flippant kid to let them know it is no way to speak to their mother

Recognizing that you are never too old to be a kid

• Getting on the floor and playing whatever the favorite game of the day is
• Sitting beside them and learning the nuances of Playstation 3 to spend quality time together
• Encouraging some geocaching or a long bike ride to show that the family can have fun together

For all these things and endless more, I am eternally grateful.

Happy Father's Day to all those dad's out there that help make the world a better place by helping to raise some awesome kids...Love you all!