Looking back at childhood, many of us may recall being asked what we want to be when we grow up. While some kids had clear aspirations, for others, it was a daunting question.
In grade one we were asked what we want to be when we grow up. The only thing I could think of was, “a normal man.” I reflect on that and two thoughts spring to mind.
- Unlike me, other kids seemed to have some idea of what they wanted to be.
- Oh, the irony. As a child, all I wanted was to be “normal,” and that was the one thing I could never to be.
I reminisce, and can think of many of my peers who knew what they wanted; fire captain (Duff in grade 3), an entrepreneur (Andrew, a different one, in grade 7), a soldier (Ross and Geoff, in grade 9), a high school English teacher (Rob in grade 12).
I never had that until 2007, when my wife delivered into the world kid 1. He was delivered by C-section, so while she spent some time in recovery, I was honoured to be the first person to hold him.
I sat in a rocking chair in the hospital nursery, looking down into the beautiful, black eyes of the most incredible, beautiful, and perfect being in the universe.
In that moment, I found what I wanted to be: the best father, and daddy, in the world to that wonderful little boy. A surety that was reinforced when I repeated the experience with both kids 2 and 3.
I’ve tried.
Sadly, I’ve made mistakes; large and small, but I’ve tried. And I’ve learned from them, and try never to repeat them.
Am I the best daddy in the world? Undoubtedly not, but I dedicate each and every day to the effort to get there.
