Coming into this parenting gig as an “old school man’s man” with a daughter for the first time at 49 found me lying awake at night worrying.
Not only about the stuff I didn’t know but also the stuff that apparently, I’d been doing wrong all my life. How does someone get to 49 years old without knowing you must NEVER wipe your butt in the wrong direction?
Yet despite all of the learning curves, I absolutely loved everything about being Charlie’s dad right from the start.
Her complete dependence on me initially filled me with with fear and terror. But then it developed into a sense of purpose and achievement like nothing else. Having this amazing little miracle relying on me was the most masculine I’d ever felt.
Then just after Charlie’s second birthday, I was thrust into the role of both mother and father.
While I’ve had the amazing support of my mother and sister, it’s been just Charlie and I for the last five years. And in that time, I’ve cried more than I’d cried in the entire 49 years before.
I struggle to hold in the tears every single time Charlie has a needle. I sat in the in the car and cried like a baby outside of Charlie’s first day at kindergarten. I cried at Charlie’s first ballet class and first gymnastics class. There have been so many tear-stained firsts. Yet I feel more masculine than ever.
It’s true, there is something special about the bond between dads and their daughters.
Top Comments
Wow, what a lucky daughter Charlie is! And what a fantastic model of masculinity Michael is! They are not little for long, and it sounds like you have a relationship that will survive the teenage years and beyond! Best wishes. And it is important to share this kind of masculinity, so I hope you keep writing!
Thanks so much for the kind words🙏. I'm definitely the luckiest bloke in the world with this kid!!
You and your daughter are making a life of beautiful memories together. You’re both so lucky to have each other!
Thanks so much for your kind words. I'm definitely the luckiest bloke in the world with this kid!❤