Fathers

Then I got married and I got to adopt Kevin’s dad. It is cool to “get” a dad when you are already a grown-up because you are old enough to take in the lessons they have to offer and appreciate their life experience in a way younger kids never can with their parents.

What I am most thankful for is the way Kevin’s dad taught Kevin to be a man. I am sure my kids’ Gamps would say he didn’t teach Kevin anything explicitly. Anyone who has every heard their attitude mimicked by a three year old knows more is caught than taught by our kids. Thankfully, Kevin mostly caught all the good stuff.

I get to watch every day as Gamps‘ lessons unfold.

Kevin is thoughtful and kind. I don’t mean bring flowers home thoughtful (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.). I mean the kind of thoughtful that has him thinking about the way what he does effects other people, which is way more important than a three day bouquet. He works hard for his family, and then worries that working takes too much time away from that family. He consults me on every decision and plans ahead for all of us-not just him. He worries about the world, and how he can do his part to be a man for others. Like his dad, Kevin doesn’t get it right every time. But it never stops him from trying again.

Kevin is a gentleman. I don’t mean just pull out chairs and hold doors gentleman-although there is plenty of that. I mean the kind of gentleman who deeply respects every person he meets, no matter who they are, because as humans- they deserve his respect. He may not agree with you and he may argue with your every word, but at the end of the fight he will buy you a drink and share a laugh because he knows what is important in life is how you treat people, not what side of the debate you each fall on.

Kevin (almost) never takes himself too seriously. Thanks to his father, Kevin recognizes the need for vacation bracelets and the birthday fairy. He loves girls who have skinned knees sticking out of their dresses and boys who have their nails done. He knows fun and laughter is the best medicine for kids sometimes-even if the laughter interrupts what he was planning to do.

Kevin’s love for his children and belief in their dreams is nothing short of heroic. He teaches them every day that they can be whatever they choose and pursue as grand a path as they can imagine for themselves. He teaches them to work hard and then relish and share the rewards of that hard work. Kevin teaches them every day, through his actions, that they are loved, and what is a more powerful lesson than that? He got it all from his dad. Thank you Gamps for passing your best on. We all benefit from that.