A Pretty Cool Dude by Paige Sumowski

The topic for this month is things that are important to me, and, I decided to write about the person I probably care about the most. My anchor in the stormy waters, my inspiration, the one person who has never left me. I’m writing about my dad.

I don’t exactly have a conventional relationship with my dad. He shaped my childhood and definitely taught me important lessons, but he never really felt like a parent. He is a storyteller, teaching me by taking me back to his childhood, what it was like when he grew up, the struggles he faced, the successes he had. He is a friend, supporting me through rough patches and serving as someone to talk to without judgment. He is a teacher, yes, teaching me about the brain and philosophy and life, but also teaching me how to be critical (he definitely excelled here). 

He was never the one to tell me to brush my teeth or go to bed, or to eat my vegetables, or to do my homework. For a while now, he hasn’t even been around to do so. But, for me, he played a more important role. 

He’s someone I can call when I get into a fight.  He’s someone who will support me when I struggle. He’s someone who will cheer me on when I’m doing something important to me. He’s someone who will celebrate me when I have an accomplishment. He’s someone who will take me to New York, my escape from this town (sorry guys).

He’s someone I can tell things to that are probably too sarcastic or weird for me to say out loud to… anyone. He’s someone I don’t have to say anything to at all... he knows. 

My dad is someone who cares. 

Probably the best thing about my relationship with my dad is that I know he needs me too. With other people, I know they like me (cool, I dig ya too), but they don’t really need me. My dad calls me to tell me about his day. He tells me when something good happened at work, what he learned, things he’s proud of. He tells me when something really set him off or hurt him. Because of this, I know he won’t leave me. I know he won’t ignore me. I know I can trust him (and this is coming from someone with major trust issues… ahaha living the fun life). I know that I’m needed. 

My dad doesn’t treat me like someone to make him feel better about himself, my dad doesn’t treat me like an obligation he has to fulfill, my dad doesn’t treat me like someone to hang out with just to hang out with someone. My dad treats me like a person.
My dad is not really a dad, but damn, he’s a pretty cool dude.

The last Bitmoji my dad sent to me. (Yep he uses Bitmoji.)