A Good Dad

 A good dad takes his young daughter on early morning hikes in a wild field that would someday become a road. He guides his three young kids on bike rides on quiet summer Sunday mornings along empty sidewalks in a charming town. They stop midway to get donuts and chocolate milk.

A good dad brings his young ones to the office on Saturday afternoons and keeps gum in his desk drawer as a surprise. They sing together on their car ride to and from.

He brings a gold fish home for the one who is sick with a sore throat. 

Valentine’s gifts for them all.

Blows balloons for birthdays.

He is Santa.

And maybe the tooth fairy. No one could ever find out.

A good dad is a good husband-gentle. Kind. Thoughtful. Soft voices with his wife as they drive before dawn on the long road up to the cabin, their young ones stretched out in the station wagon-drowsy but excited for their adventure. 

A good dad says, “I trust them to make their own decisions.” And is understanding when the decisions are mistakes.

He’s there with advice. Solutions. A joke, and a compliment.

He teaches them how to play checkers and how to wake early to catch the sunrise. 

How to paint. Inspires writing. 

A good dad is kind to strangers.

Gives up his chair for his daughter. Is a role model to his sons.

He is generous. Hard working. And supportive.

A good dad reads books to his grandchildren on the back porch during the rain.

He gives them cookies for breakfast. Makes tipis out of sticks in the woods with them. He teaches them to swim.

A good dad visits his parents when they are ailing. 

Takes care of his wife when she grows old.

Celebrates milestones when his kids get older. 

And a good dad, when he himself has lived out his days, and can no longer remember how to speak words, utters “so long” with a single tear rolling down his cheek.

As his last promise to meet again-in some other place.

And then he leaves this word…better for having been in it. 

A good dad will always be remembered.