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Parenting...
A Fathering Moment to Remember
 My
8 year-old daughter and I were playing around on the driveway
when Ipopped the question. "Do you want to try your two wheeler
bike?" "Sure," she said, "I'll go get it."
I was surprised
by her willingness to try. Even though I believed she could have
learned to ride a two-wheeler years ago, I had stayed patient
and hoped she would develop a desire to try.
I flashed
back to many of my experiences with her when she was younger.
So often I was confused about how to respond, especially when
things got messy emotionally. Her mom often saved me and came
to the rescue.
I felt more
in my element now. There was teaching to be done. Clear steps
would be taken with a desired result. This was the territory of
a father!
"Daddy,
keep it steady!" As I helped her to balance on the bike,
I wondered what the instructions should be to help her on her
first ride. Should I fill her head with instructions, or should
I just push her and let her go? "Daddy, let's go, push me!"
She answered my question, and I started to push.
So here I
was, pushing my daughter towards a little more independence. Helping
her to learn a skill she'd have for the rest of her life. One
small step away from dependence on her parents and towards an
eventual life of her own.
I ran alongside
her, and then I let her go.
She wobbled
a bit, but she started down the road. I felt excitement, exhilaration,
and sadness all at once. "Keep pedaling, keep pedaling!"
I shouted.
She stopped
abruptly and turned around. "Daddy, stop yelling that, you're
making me almost fall!"
The hissing
sound was the deflation of a fathers' pride. "Sorry, honey,
go ahead." I muttered. It looked like I'd still be waiting
for my first "perfect" fathering moment.
Moments later,
Sarah came by on her bike and gave me a look that showed pure
joy and excitement. She had overcome her fear and was bursting
with pride. It brought a tear to my eye and an immense gratitude
for being so very lucky.
I won't soon
forget the look she gave me, and I hope she won't ever forget
this moment we shared together.
It may not
have been perfect, but it certainly was enough.
About the
Author...
Mark
Brandenburg MA, CPCC, coaches men to be better fathers and husbands.
He is the author of "25
Secrets of Emotionally Intelligent Fathers" http://www.markbrandenburg.com/father.htm.
Sign up for his FREE bi-weekly newsletter, "Dads, Don't Fix
Your Kids," at http://www.markbrandenburg.com.
Reprinted
from Zongoo! Family
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