Being a father brings me more satisfaction than anything in life. I have learned patience and to sometimes slow down and enjoy the little things in life that would have passed me by. I grew up not having the luxury of having a father. My mom had me later in life, and I wasn’t exactly planned for. My mom decided to keep me, and though my dad already had kids, he had no interest in dealing with another one. I found out that he passed away around the time I turned 2.
I made a commitment that I would make a difference and be there for my son and provide him with leadership, love and—the most important, precious thing in life—time together. I cherish my time together with my son. We have done what so many good dads have done together. Just being there and listening to him is so important. When I learned I was going to be a dad, the first thing I did was ask every dad I know one question: What would you have done differently as a father? The answer I heard from 99 percent of these dads was to be around more when their children were little. They all seem to have missed a very important part of their child’s life. They still had a great bond; however, you could tell that is one area they would change and wish was different. I am proud to say that over the years I have missed meetings, parties, fun trips, floor seats—and I’ve learned that I did not miss a thing. I was able to grow closer to my son, support him and learn more about him. He has taught me to have more patience than I would have ever had and to laugh more.
In this month's issue, we feature some local dads we dig. Log onto AZFoothills.com for Father’s Day events in the Valley.
And to my one and only son: I love you more than anything.
