1How does someone come to grips with their daughter growing up faster than they anticipate?
I was the first guy in her life. She means more to me than right now you can imagine.
"I loved her first, I held her first…there's a place in my heart that will always be hers."
You see, I just had it all worked out…from my perspective. And none of this was supposed to happen until at least the fall of 2020. Okay, maybe a year or two sooner…
"Momma's waiting to tuck her in as she fumbles up those stairs. She smiles back at him dragging that teddy bear. There goes my life."
I don't mean for it to be so personal. I don't hate you. Actually, it's the opposite. That is what frustrates me so much. Why do I get angry when I see you? She is just as guilty.
She's even MORE guilty…her will is stronger than yours, by what I can see, and she told you she was ready.
"Two things I know for sure…she was sent here from heaven, and she's daddy's little girl…"
But she's my baby girl. She's singing Barney in the tub with baby shampoo holding her hair 4 inches high. She's learning to walk and falling face first and chipping her front teeth. She's on stage at the mall singing the shit out of Mariah, and I am outright crying while weirdo teen girls look at me like I'm a freak. She's in the high school parking lot with white knuckles, amazed at how much trust I am putting in her being behind the wheel of my truck. She's the originator of the "donkey smile". She's throwing stuffed animals at me down the stairs and yelling like a brat.
We started so young, and with nothing. It's not lip service. When you sit there as I did, and promise your little girl that you would do whatever it takes to make life better…and now it truly is better. Especially since she met you.
You won me over when you were cracking jokes that time at her birthday party. You reminded me of myself when I was a teen.
You are perfect for her. I know how much she loves you. With that kind of love comes complete trust. If she trusts you so much, than I will, too. It's just hard for me…
"Someday you'll know what I'm going through when a miracle smiles up at you."
Look, this is all new to me. I will get over it. I'm sorry if you think that I am a jerk or that I'm overreacting, or if you think that I am putting all the blame on you because I can't bring myself to be angry with my baby girl. It may be partially true.
Not anymore. I'm going to get over it. Promise me one thing. BE SMART. I'm not giving any kind of permission, trust me on that. I only want you to think about your future…if it's meant to be, and you guys will be together forever…what's the hurry?