Fathers and Daughters

 As you probably know, I am surrounded by females. Estrogen and Progesterone.

Having grown up in a household of boys, this was initially a shock to the system, having daughters. Wouldn't change it for the world. Never in a thousand years would I have thought I'd learn to French-braid my girls' hair. Or paint nails. Or learn to put on makeup, or help dress princesses.

That all said, it does get lonely sometimes. Especially when they're in their preteens or teens. And they lean a lot more on mom for girly advice; about their shoes, shirts, makeup, acne concerns. And my wife, she is a supermom, and my mother aside, I know no one else who mothers as well as she does. But it does leave me feeling like I'm standing alone sometimes. Sure, I can solder their broken necklaces, or fix the wifi, or change the engine oil in the mower, etc. But what do I know about finding the right kind of underwear, or what kind of top matches their shoes? And so, it does sometimes feel pretty lonely being the only male in the house. Especially one who grew up half a world away, in a cultural polar opposite, who cannot at all relate to how the social circles in schools here function.

Time moves so quickly. I can relate to that song Butterfly Kisses. We are certainly not at that stage of life yet of me giving my girls away, but it's so true how they go to perfumes and makeup, from ribbons and curls. I miss their younger years, when they were toddlers, and I could pick them up with ease. When they used to think things I did were funny, and their dad was Superman. And just like that, that chapter is gone, and we're moving on to the next.

While I can't wait to find out what the future holds for them, I wish we could slow down time. And in many ways, I wish we could turn back time. And to experience some things again. And perhaps to undo some mistakes.