My daughter and I are traveling this week and I'm sending this column from the road. It's been so sweet to spend solo time with one of my children, especially knowing that my wife is home having a similarly rewarding one-on-one time with our youngest son. For both pairs of parent-and-child, this means quiet conversations and fun adventures; sharing meals, smiles, inside jokes and special moments that become lifetime memories.
As we've traveled, I've been so heartened to catch glimpses of other fathers out there in their own dadly duties. It's timeless, it's the same everywhere, and it's so good to see. My daughter and I found ourselves waiting at an airport departures drop-off point for a while during our travels.
Seeing a succession of dads dropping their kids and families off for flights was very moving. There was the dad with a young pre-teenager, hugging him and sharing his love, and leaving as his final words, “listen to your mom.” That's a good man.
Then there was the older father dropping his college-age son off to spread his wings. The son was excited and bright-eyed as he faced open, clear horizons. The man was holding back his emotion, forcing a smile as he put his boy onto a jet plane and launched him into the world.
His face deeply lined and his hair turning gray, this old man’s last great act of masculine leadership and superman strength was to show his son the support and confidence he feels in him, not the worry. The young man doesn't need that burden. To.
