This week I've been watching The Today Show and they've been featuring the concept of the new dad. The dad who puts his family before his career and friends. The dad who changes diapers and fixes boo boos. The dad who brings his kids to soccer, ballet, and is there when they always fall. Maybe I come from a weird family, but my dad always was, and still is, that dad.
Since the time I was little my dad has been there for me not because he had to, but because he wanted to. Because my dad was a teacher in the same school district (and yes, the same high school) I went to, we spent every summer together. I didn't have many friends in the neighborhood, so he took the time to be my friend. We went to Valley Fair all the time, and while he may not admit it, I whooped him in the bumper cars every time. He sat through all the terrible kids movies I wanted to see, and exposed me to the Naked Gun movies at a very young age (as well as introducing me to Star Wars...) We went to Disney World for spring break, played ball on the Field of Dreams in Iowa and spent a lot of time downtown at Matthew Mallard's, and racing our receipts down the escalators. Took me to Viking and Buccaneers games and endured the terrible fans.
Out of all the things we've done together (and there are WAY too many to name) there are a couple things that mean the most. The first is baseball. From the time I was young, my dad taught me about the love the game. He taught me about the subtleties, the best advice ever? "Watch the outfielders." When the crowd gets excited, I find myself saying to whomever I'm with "watch the outfielders..." He introduced to me the history of baseball, and how it effected the country. It was the place to go to escape problems. It's baseball! I learned that in baseball, anything was possible.
While some look at our relationship as different and strange, some of the best times I've ever had with my dad, was going grocery shopping. Yes. Even up until this day, when my dad and I go grocery shopping we get into epic arguments. Not the ones that people are actually upset, rather somehow, we can spend 20 minutes in the frozen section debating veggies. As much as I love writing, there really are no words to describe what we do at the grocery store. We get really strange looks, ever since I was little pushing my little orange and yellow cart through the isles, we can be classified at obnoxious, but we never leave the store, not laughing. I am so lucky.
He taught me baseball, football, grilling, politics. He taught me what a good steak is (and to never put A1 on it) and to make sure to clean all the meat off my BBQ Ribs. He taught me to keep my eye on the ball. He taught me not only the awesome things in life, but he taught me the important things.
I grew up in the age where not everyone won. We all didn't get trophies and we learned to loose. Part of that process was having my Dad tell me that it was okay. My dad was there when I lost my karate tournaments or t-ball games. He was there for me to teach me that life went on. There is disappointments in life, and it's up to us to get through it.
He was also the one to teach me about being a strong female. Some think it's weird that my dad is the one that was put in that roll. But, look who he married. He married a woman who stood her ground, fought for what she wanted, and denied his marriage proposal like four times!! He taught me about my self-worth. That while I might be feeling down, I should never settle for anything less than what I want!
My Dad has always been the man who I judged all others against. Which, on my part, might be unfair. To me, my dad is awesome. He treated us right and always did what was best for us. The new modern dad is everything my dad has always been. He taught us how to care for each other and always put family first. He taught me about expectations and to set them high.
Even since I've moved away he's still there for me. My Dad is one of the few people in the world I know that, even at 3am, I can call and he'll answer the phone. If I really need someone, he'll be out in Colorado that day. Happy Fathers Day to the man who really does know best, what's best for his family and his two little girls! Some people call him Mr Berg, Fred, even a community icon. But I am one of the luckiest two girls in the world, that get to call him Daddy!
