Becoming a father and turning into a dad.

Since I've been blessed with a child in my life, I realize there are two distinct and different roles I hold for my daughter. I'm both a father and a dad. Some people get the responsibilities and the roles all mixed up, but there are some of us who know the difference.

   I knew I was a father when I got so happy upon hearing that
   my wife was pregnant.
   I knew I was a dad when I realized I now had a good reason
   to go to the toy store.

   I realized I was a father when I would gently touch the
   developing child inside my wife.
   I knew I was a dad when I held conversations with and told
   jokes to my pregnant wife's stomach.

   I knew I was a father the day I watched my child being born.
   I became a dad when I looked at the sight of that newborn
   baby and cried.

   I was a father when I struggled to change diapers and clean
   up after the baby.
   I knew I was a dad when I realized it really didn't matter
   much after all.

   When I'm a father I carefully correct my child's mistakes.
   As a dad I tell my child what I learned from some mistakes
   I've made myself.

   As a father I think about all the responsibility that goes with
   having a child.
   When I'm a dad I realize how much I love having a family
   and can't imagine life any other way.

   When I'm a father I'm very careful to buy only toys that are
   safe for my child.
   As a dad I take time to play with my child and the new toys
   I buy.

   When I'm a father there always comes a time when I have
   to discipline my child for breaking the rules.
   When I'm a dad I tell my child about all the rules I have to
   obey and don't like either.

   As a father I look for activities that will teach my child
   something.
   As a dad I try to find things we can learn together.

   When I'm a father I make sure my daughter cleans up her
   messes.
   When I'm a dad I understand when she points out messes
   that need to be cleaned up by me.

   As a father I tell my child to give her best when she tries
   something new.
   When I'm a dad I understand when it doesn't work out, and
   tell my child it's all right.

   When I'm a father I teach my child there's no such thing as
   monsters.
   As a dad I understand why she's scared of them.

   As a father I always have a sense of relief when I walk in my
   house and see my child safe in our home.
   As a dad I can't wait to give my child that big "hello" hug.

   As a father I make sure my child has enough clothes on to
   go outside in the snow.
   As a dad I show her the best way to make a snowman.

   As a father I have no problem holding the bike and running
   alongside my daughter as she learns to ride it.
   When I'm a dad there's a part of me that wishes I didn't have
   to let go.

Going forward with my family, I know the future will cause us all to get just a little older. Time has a way of letting that child we see every day turn into an adult. When my daughter is grown, I hope she remembers that I'll always be her father, and I hope she never wants to forget just how much I love being her dad.

J. Michael Krivyanski is a writer living in Allison Park, Pennsylvania.