How often in life do you get a second chance to make amazing memories with amazing children? When Ariana was young, we did some incredible father/daughter things together! Phantom of the Opera at the Fox, many plays at the Rome Little Theater and Shorter College, and many days just shopping! When I look back on her childhood, those are some of my favorite and most emotional memories! I have read so many stories this Christmas about kids growing up way too fast and I think one of the things we make a mistake with is trying to keep our children young forever by doing everything for them. We should be teaching them how to do for themselves and others and I have always tried to do that, but it comes at a high price. A parent’s true job is to teach your kids not to need you, but when that day comes it leaves a terrible hole in your life! However, if you hold on too tight and stunt their growth you might end up with a 40-year-old child living in your basement and I never wanted that for my children. They have both grown into amazing and independent adults that I am so proud of, but it doesn’t mean I don’t look back with some pain and wish I could have kept them young and needing me for a little bit longer! That is not the way life is though! Time moves on and if we do our job right, so do our children. I will cherish the memories I made with Ariana for the rest of my life and remember all of those wonderful father/daughter moments!
Having said that, God brought Phyllis into my life 4 years ago, along with her amazing children. They had already become my children, but with the death of their father this year, my role took on a much larger meaning. I will never replace their dad and I was perfectly happy being second string for him, but I am also up to the task of being his stand in for the future since he can no longer be here with them. This year, I planned a special trip for Abby and as part of her Christmas gift while the boys were on a 4-H trip and Phyllis went to work. We have done other things together, but this was really our first father/daughter solo trip, especially since Jeff’s passing.
I surprised Abby with the tickets to A Christmas Carol at the Cobb Energy Center. That came with some shopping and lunch. We headed out early for Cumberland Mall and had a great time shopping. Shoes and Jewelry were on the list. Some things never change. I think her favorite gift was the boots I let her have early and wear to the show. She loved them so much she took pictures of them. After that, we had an amazing lunch despite a long delay in seating. Actually, the delay gave us time to hang out and just talk for a while so even it was wonderful. We then headed to the play with amazing parking and amazing seats. I have never been to the Cobb Energy Center, but it is beautiful and Abby was blown away! She LOVED the play, her first real professional play, and she loved the snacks and walking around at intermission. It was such a sweet day!
After the play, made a couple of last minute shopping stops, a quick dinner at Chick-Fil-A and then home! Neither of us had any trouble sleeping that night! It was another amazing memory to file away. My second chance to share the love of a daughter! I have been told several times how incredible it is that I love children so much who are not my blood. I have also been asked a few times how I can love children who aren’t my blood, so much. In a day with so many family situation, I hope everyone can feel what I feel. I LOVE MY CHILDREN! They are all mine, blood or not. Loving one should not and does not take away from the others. I have always had more than enough love to go around and now I have more to share it with. That’s really all there is to it. Abby is my daughter and always will be! I love her so much and sharing these experiences with her allows me to relive all the beautiful times I had with my other beautiful daughter, Ariana! I love and miss her every day and I am so proud of the life she is building in California, but it doesn’t stop the pain I feel of missing her. Having this second chance to be a DAD to amazing children is more than I could have ever asked God for in life. I am so blessed every day!
