Father's Day

One thing losing my mom has taught me was to embrace the people in your life while they are here.  I used to be angry with my parents for not being more like the TV 📺 parents. You know like in a Brady-bunch-Cosby sort of way.  At least until I became a parent. Most things you get come with a manual that tells you what to do. Not kids. There is no class on how to be an awesome parent. It's trial by fire 🔥.  I would always say "I'm never going to do this when I am a mom" or "I'm going to always do that when I'm a mom." It did NOT work out that way.



I now understand that you do the best you can with the tools you have. I became a parent before I fully developed my toolkit.  I made some mistakes but I love my kids.
My dad wasn't affectionate but I know he loves me. My dad is from the era when men were providers and mothers were nurturers.  I spent my teen years with my dad so I wasn't a girlie girl.

Then I went to the Navy and I became even less of a girlie girl. I talk too loud, I compound curse words with the best of them and when I come home from work I want an ice cold Bud.light Lime 🍋.   I am fiercely competitive and believe that results trump relationships any day.   I'm the chic that would.punch you in the nose 👃 when you call me a bitch rather than run 🏃 to the bathroom in tears 😭.   The girlfriends I have in my circle have been there a very long time. They know who I am and love me anyway.

I used to wonder if my dad had taken me on dates rather than show me how to change a tire and flush the radiator, would I have turned out differently.  I thought I wanted a girl when I was pregnant but God knew best. I wasn't equipped to raise a girl. So HE gave me two sons. And I did the best I could with the tools that I had to equip them for the world 🌎.

And so did my Dad.
So in honor of Fathers Day, here is a thank you list to my Dad.

Thank you for making me fearless enough to pursue careers that were predominantly male, letting me know that education was always my key 🔑.

Thank you for making me independent enough to move to new cities  🌃 Without knowing a soul but able to get it done.

Thank you for making me diverse enough to thrive in boardroom or the hood.

Thank you for the travel bug, it made me not afraid to see new places.

Thank you for talking to the grownup me and showing me it is never too late to change.

Thank you for the great sense of humor and ability to laugh at myself.

Most of all, thank you for being my dad. No you aren't perfect, but you are mine.

Thanks for reading 📖 
MzNewy