I've spent a lot of time thinking about what to write in this post. I've spent a lot of time thinking about THIS post.
Part of the reason I've been fighting myself over writing about my dad is because, well, he reads this blog. But the angel on my shoulder won the argument, and I concluded that no matter what I write, he'll be proud of me.
When reality set in that my mom was going to die, I was really freaked out. Not only because she would no longer be in my life, but because I would spend the rest of my high school career living only with my father. This is a scary thought. How many girls can say they feel comfortable talking about their period and bra size with their dad? Not many. I realized that my dad would have to register me for school, clean the house, do my laundry, cook dinner, go grocery shopping, go CLOTHES SHOPPING, and call the school when I was sick. He had never done most of these things.
Let me tell you a little about my dad. He's 60, and he's slightly deaf. He would never admit it, of course. He is a soft spoken man, but he's very funny if you get to know him. He pretends to hate my pets (they shed, bark, meow, and eat a lot), but I know deep down, he loves them like he loves me (because I do those things too). He's friendly. There isn't one person my father couldn't get along with. Even though sometimes he doesn't understand exactly what I'm going through, and even though he doesn't always know what to say, I know he will always be there for me no matter what. He would do anything for me, and that's very hard to come by. He calls me every day after school to make sure I'm home and safe, and he always tries to stay awake if he knows I'll be out late. He never forgets to say, "Night Han!"
No, we don't always get along seamlessly. I don't exactly keep my room clean, which he doesn't like. I don't exactly vacuum. And my bathroom counter....well, I'm a teenage girl okay? When he gets mad at me for having a dirty room or falling in love with a stray cat, it's hard for me to keep calm. I get upset because these are the things my mom enforced when she was here. Really, though, I'm a pretty good kid, and I think he is truly thankful for that.
Every day, my dad gets better at being both parents. I can't express how much I appreciate the things he does for me. I'm extremely lucky to have such a sweet, kind-hearted man as a father.
I know my momma is smiling down on us every single day...and she's holding my hand when I tell him I need tampons.
