A few nights ago, my older daughter came over to me with the book pictured above and said “this is a book about Dads isn’t it?”. Immediately, I recognized the book. David bought it several years ago when were expecting our first child and found out we were having a girl. We were in a baby store and he picked two books, – the one pictured “Father to Daughter, Life lessons on raising a Girl” and the corresponding “Mother to Daughter, Shared wisdom from the heart” for me.

Both books are such easy reads with only one or two sentences per page.  Our daughters have always had an interest in the book, I think the picture on the cover page fascinates them. We have read it with them and they have also enjoyed playing with them. This is evident given how tattered the book looks. Over the last year, I have glanced through the Father to Daughter book several times as I sadly worried about what my daughters may be missing out off. So when my daughter asked about the book, I was concerned that it was going to saddened her.

When she asked if it was about Dads, I responded that “yes, it is”. She then asked that I read it to her. Twice, I asked if she was sure, affirmatively she said yes. Finally, she demanded that I read it to her and said “Yes read it, then you will know everything that you need to do”.

I was so touched by her comment, she is trying to equip me with what I need to fill the role of their Daddy. I was happy she had some confidence in me to think I can step into David’s role. In the usual spirit of fighting bedtime, she also encourage me to read it by saying that “you will know what to do for us tonight because Daddy let us stay up late even on school days”.