Celebrating Father’s Day, Even When It Feels Strange
While any man can have a child, it's the courage to raise that child that makes you a real father.
Father's often get a bad rap, and it's truly terrible for the Dads who give their all each day. Father's Day should not be considered a second Mother's Day, even if Mom has played both roles. Instead, choose to celebrate those Dads in your life that you see putting in love, effort, and time for their kids.
Personally, I don't consider my biological dad, Juan Lucas Gonzalez, a father by any means. I consider him to be the most evil man in Central Texas. The upcoming holiday has my emotions all over the place as I ruminate over the past. I'm still very much afraid of Juan, and had to check the McLennan County inmate list to ease my anxiety. Juan's still imprisoned which is a relief, but the painful memories remain.
Instead of getting sucked in to those emotions and memories, I want to focus on the positive men who are fathers in my life.
The first being my uncle, who has three kids that he absolutely loves and adores. My uncle is only a few years older than I am, but he definitely is much wiser. Over the years I've seen him grow from a teenager that used to babysit me, to a man who is a teacher, role model, and a pretty good chef! I'm so thankful for his love and support over the years.
The next amazing dad in my life is my boyfriend. I swore to never date a guy with kids because:
- I didn't want any drama
- Kids are a responsibility that seemed overwhelming
Despite my reservations, I gave dating him a shot, and I'm so happy I did. This man is the ultimate Dad, who would do anything for his kids. Not having the perfect upbringing made me feel ill prepared, but I've learned so much about myself through the interactions and experiences I've had with him and his daughters. This weekend, we'll be celebrating with the girls and firing up the grill. It's something I never imagined, but it's better than anything I could of wished for on my own.
So while I may not be celebrating my own "Dad," I'll definitely be celebrating all the men out there who are working to be the best Fathers they can.