Black Dad and His Three Kids Art

I was a spoiled little girl. Not that I was showered with every toy I ever wanted or slept on a bed of luxurious pillows, but I was given the most incredible gift a small-town girl from Indiana could ever want–a loving daddy to call her own.

Throughout the years my dad has jumped from being best friend to protector to worst enemy, sometimes all in one day. But what I've learned is that you need a little tough love from Dad every now and then to make it in this cutthroat world, while other times you just need a big papa bear hug to make it all disappear—at least for a few seconds.

If I could go back in time and tell my gap-toothed self to treasure a few key moments, these would be the ones:

1. How he managed to spend my birthday with me every year on April 14th, despite the fact that he's an accountant. He took off one of the busiest days of tax season for his little girl, and I barely batted an eyelash.

2. All of the times he lifted me up on his shoulders, even when I was probably too old (and too heavy) to be carried around like a baby. There was nothing more thrilling than feeling like a giant atop his 6' frame.

3. When he called me his little princess. He always said it with sarcasm, but the twinkle in his eye suggested otherwise.

4. When he took me to the father-daughter dance for my Girl Scouts troop, dreading the fact that he may actually have to dance. And let me tell you, he only knows one dance and it ain't pretty.

5. How he introduced me to REAL music. Not those fluffy teen-boy bands all of my friends were listening to, but good ol' heart-pumping rock n' roll like AC/DC and Guns N' Roses. His interpretation of Sweet Child O' Mine was…something, to say the least.

6. When he'd reluctantly agree to play all of my board games. From Monopoly to Life to Candy Land, he could've built an empire with the hours spent rolling dice and picking up cards.

7. How he showed up to every single swim meet, dance recital, school play, band performance, and anything else that was important to me. Much like the hours spent poring over a board game, he was probably bored out of his mind during these events, yet he still told me how proud he was afterwards and pulled me in for that big, loving bear hug.

8. What he would say to me when I was being a baby. With a pat on the back and a "man up," I learned not to let the little things impede on my own happiness.

9. Every time he would hold out his hand during Hootie & the Blowfish's catchy "Hold My Hand song." I used to roll my eyes with a big smirk on my face as I plopped my hand in his, and I suspect I'd do the same today.

10. When he cried at his father's funeral. As a little girl I had looked down into my lap during this heartbreaking moment, but it showed me that just because my dad is strong as steel, it doesn't mean he lacks a heart.

This is to you, Pops—I love you.

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Black Dad and His Three Kids Art

Source: https://www.womansday.com/relationships/family-friends/news/a50804/10-things-my-dad-did-for-me-when-i-was-a-kid-that-i-took-for-granted/

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