“There’s something like a line of gold thread running through a man’s words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself.”
~John Gregory Brown
Seven years ago I suddenly became someone different. It happened overnight, from one instant to the next; my identity altered until I found myself scratching the skin of someone new.
Nine months was plenty of time to assemble my courage and thicken my resolve, but there was no aggregate of minutes that could ever hope to truly prepare me for what waited on the other side of that first quiet cry, bouncing from the tiles of the birthing room.
Becoming a father transformed me. Every incident before or since can only stand in shadow.
My natural playfulness and undiluted love for life made me a natural for the role, but I had no idea how much fatherhood would change me until I had the fierce instinct to protect, clotting my blood alongside an adamant need to nurture.
Mia made me a father. She is a remarkable child, and I stand in constant awe of who she is and who she is gradually becoming. To celebrate Mia’s 7th birthday, I would like to mention just a few of the many things I love about her.
- Minute for Minute lived on this Earth, Mia is the most articulate person I know. Her questions often arrive under my radar, and she answers inquiries I never even knew I had.
- Mia is a constant storm of creativity. Around our casa, we call her a tornado… this is not necessarily a compliment. She scatters her projects across our life with chaos organized only in her mind. We are on her about this poor habit like white on rice, but between all of you and me, I find her hurricane of work somewhat of a wonder.
- Mia is beautiful. I understand beauty is found less in the face then it is in the heart, but Mia looks enough like her mother to remind me of the fact every time I am bold enough to get lost in her eyes, and enough like me to cripple me with the thought that I could take part in the creation of something so stunning.
- Mia is a generous soul. She is unbelievable happy and spreads her cheer to others with the chirpiness of a songbird.
- Mia is determined. If there is a problem, she will find a way to solve it, and if the solution lies just out of her reach, then Mia will find a way to climb.
I love Mia’s confidence. Last week, when Cindy and I were teaching our writer’s workshop at Mia’s school, we asked our students to list three adjectives that described them. Mia was part of the workshop, but not called upon to answer. Later, at home, Cindy and I looked at her list: smart, beautiful, and loving, she said.
You’re absolutely right, Mia. I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Happy Birthday, Bunny. I love you.
Writer Dad
Daisy wishes Mia a happy birthday as well. Butterflies are Free.
Related posts:
- Happy Birthday, Megan! Today is my sister Megan’s birthday. It isn’t as big...
- Happy Anniversary! Happy anniversary, these 8 years with you Have been a...
- 7 Secrets to Raising a Happy Child This post was originally written for Zen Habits, but has...
- On Being Happy – Part II “Most People are about as happy as they make up...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
