My Daddy was the kind of man who believed being Daddy to 4 little girls was a really good job. He took it very seriously. He taught us to do lots of things for ourselves. We hunted and fished, camped and hiked, cooked over a fire and slept under the stars. We also went to high tea, wore dresses and frilly socks, took dance lessons and read about etiquette and learned what a gentleman looked like.

One of the things that my Daddy did that meant so much is give us all of him when he was with us or when we needed him. Even at work or when he was busy, he told his secretary to put his girls through if we called because we were a priority. He put down the newspaper or book and talked to us one on one when we asked a question or needed correction or attention. While smart phones and tablets were not a part of my childhood, Daddy did have a voice pager that more than once interrupted a board meeting with a little voice asking him to bring home milk or come home early because Sugar the dog was out again. He did not ‘turn us off or tune us out’ for his convenience. He put us before the board members, the phone call or anyone else. Boy did that make an impression.

So, in this age of digital and electronic everything, maybe Daddies need a lesson page from my Daddy’s book this Fathers Day. Your children are not an interruption or a distraction or even a post. They are little people who will be little for a very little bit of time. Take time, take a break, make sure they get all of you for the moment they need or want you and your attention. They will be big sooner than you think, and they may not need or want you then. If you make time and take time when they are little, they will certainly remember it when they are big. I know I do. I miss my Daddy every single day. I sure am glad he stored up all that time with me when we had it.

Happy Fathers Day! Don’t miss the moment…