Growing up, I did not have a
Mother to watch over me or to do the things a little girl would want. Every
morning when I wanted a new hair style to show off at school, my Dad would do
it. Every time I wanted to go shopping for that luxurious pink sweater, my Dad
would do it. Every time I wanted to play Candy Land and get the princess card,
my Dad would do it. Every time I wanted someone to tuck me into bed and tell me
everything would be okay, my Dad would do it.
It never occurred to me that
most children had mothers until fifth grade, when my peers would always ask me
why my Dad came to all the show and tells, and Christmas Parties and not my Mom.
It hurt my feelings, and made me start to have resentment towards my dad. Being
naïve and young overwhelmed my sensitive and delicate emotions. I always wanted
to run away, I thought that my life wasn’t normal and that my Dad purposefully took
my Mom away which was not the case.
Although my Dad may not have
been the best at doing my hair, I can confidently say he does an amazing job at
being a Mother, Father, Cleaning the House, having a full time job, and taking
care of me by himself. He tries to do everything for me, and for that I can say
he succeeded at his job of being a parent. Francis Bacon once said, “There is
no comparison between that which is lost by not succeeding and that lost by not
trying.” Today I am going to Pause and Praise my Father, a man who has always
tried his hardest on making my life the best it can be.
When my Father was born, he
did not have a close relationship with his father. His father cheated on my
Grandma by secretly being involved with another woman who had three children
and two dogs. My Dad felt that the other family was more important than him and
his 2 brothers and sisters. Feeling neglected and hurt, my Dad came to the
conclusion at a very young age that he would never leave his children or hurt
them under any circumstances.
After he graduated high
school in a quaint town in Indiana with a population less than 1/8 of Kirkland,
he moved to Connecticut to pursue a BA at Central Connecticut State University
in Geography. Before my dad decided to go to college, he had no help or support
from his family. He was the only one out of three children that went to college
right away, and was the only one to complete their degree in four years. No one
guided him in a certain direction, or gave him advice on what to study or what
to do with his life after college.
Now that I am a freshman at
Northwest, I look back and see how difficult the college process can be. I
cannot imagine having no guidance or direction in what to study, or where to go
to school. My Dad was the biggest influence in my choosing of Northwest
University, and is also the biggest influence in most other things I choose to
do with my life.
When I told my Dad I wanted
to come to Northwest, he was shocked at the distance away from home. He looked
me straight in the eye and said to me “Annabel, I know that you have the drive
to do anything you set your mind to.” Coming all the way from Connecticut, I
knew that it wasn’t going to be an easy decision. Three weeks before I was
going to move to Kirkland, Washington my Dad told me he was going to move and
start his life out here with me. I was in shock. I said to myself over and
over, “He’s moving out here? For ME?!” I
didn’t believe him until I saw his bags and all of our boxes ready to be
shipped to a small yellow house on the corner of the street. That was one of
the biggest times in my life when I realized how much my Dad does for me.
In my life, I have seen my
Dad go through many challenges and difficult times. He has overcome a gambling
addiction, gone through several loses of jobs, moved around the country, lived
in over two dozen houses, and while doing this keeping his passion of writing
music alive.
But more personally, he is my
father, my friend, and my teacher. He was
the helpful atlas, always leading the way. My Dad always put his dreams aside
to raise me, and to provide for me, and for that I thank him. He has never been
selfish, and never resented raising me alone. He took it as a lesson, and
something I can learn from when I have children.
Now that I am growing older,
and starting to think about my future, I realize that my Father has taught me
everything I need to know to succeed. Even though his father did not provide
and teach him much, that made him want to teach me even more. Fathers should
teach their children how to have respect for themselves, how to be strong
willed, and how to make good decisions.
Dad, where your dad failed,
you succeeded. You never left me, never hurt me, and never resented me. You
were always as continuous as the stars that shine.
Dad, where you had
weaknesses, you fixed them to make my life better. You filled my life with
love, compassion, guidance, and strength.
Thank You for teaching me
everything you have. Even though I had resentment towards you when I was young,
looking back I feel guilty if I ever hurt you. You have been the best father
anyone could ever ask for, and I have had the true privilege of having you as
my father.
Even though you don’t succeed at everything
you do, you still try. Remember, “There is no comparison between that which is
lost by not succeeding and that lost by not trying.”
I love you Dad, and all I can
say is Thank You.
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