Father’s Day was this past Sunday, and I meant to post then. But today means more to me. It’s the day that changed something big in my heart. I grew up without a dad, and that left a quiet kind of loneliness that lingered through the years. But I was lucky in one very special way. I had an uncle (family friend) who always showed up. He remembered every birthday, made me feel safe, and treated me like I mattered. He had his own family, his own grown kids, and still… I always wished he could be my dad too. One Father’s Day when I was younger, I made him a card asking if I could call him “Dad.” But I was too shy to give it to him. I thought it was silly. A few days passed, and on June 17, I finally worked up the courage to hand it to him, heart pounding, full of doubt. He opened it, smiled, and said something I’ll never forget:“It would be an honor if you called me Dad.” Since then, he’s always called me his “extra kid.” 🥹💛
So on real Fathers day but also today,lets celebrate loving fathers but also every father figure who chooses love, care, and presence. You don’t have to share DNA to be a dad. Sometimes, the ones who step in when they don’t have to are the ones who shape us most. Now, I have a daughter, and she has a wonderful dad, the kind every child deserves. I’m so grateful that she’ll never feel the kind of emptiness I did. And the best part? She also has the most amazing ‘extra grandpa’ …the same man who once made a little girl feel seen, safe, and loved.
