With Father’s Day coming up this Sunday, I’ve been thinking of what it’s been like to be a father for all these years and a grandfather for almost four years.
While this day may be special for the fathers, grandfathers, great grandfathers and great-great grandfathers, many of them probably will consider it just another day in their lives.
I look at it a little differently.
As I was growing up and even when I became an adult, I thought more of it as a day to honor my father and my two grandfathers. I knew one great-grandfather though he died when I was in the seventh grade.
I never knew the other two.
As I have reflected throughout my life, I know my dad and grandfather Doc on my mother’s side of the family had the most influence in my life.
Dad passed away when I was 40 years old and my grandfather Doc passed away nearly 38 years ago.
I think of the good times dad and I had together and how I also enjoyed being with my grandfather so much as well. Part of that closeness was probably because after my biological mother passed away when I was 3½, I spent so much time with him and grandmother Lynch.
I believe my dad always wanted only what was best for me.
I think of the good times we experienced as a family. I also remember those times just the two of us spent together.
To me it’s an honor and privilege to be the father of such a wonderful young woman as our daughter Meghan is.
It also special to be a grandfather.
Our grandson Liam will turn 4 in a couple of more months.
My wife Pat and I had him this past weekend beginning late Friday afternoon until late Sunday afternoon when we took him home.
Even though Pat and I were pretty worn out by the time we got back Sunday evening, it was a good tired.
Not all grandparents have the opportunity to be with their grandchild or grandchildren.
I’m hopeful we have a chance to see our daughter, grandson Liam and our son-in-law Terry sometime this weekend.
I always have wanted to be the best father to Meghan that I possibly could be. I hope she will always look up to me, respect me and maybe love me as much as I love her.
The same is true now of being the best grandfather possible to Liam as well.
He calls Pat “Gigi” and I’m Mike, not granddad Mike, just Mike, which is really okay.
We hope to be able to do things with him as he grows older and remain close to him.
I hope I can have the relationship with him that my dad and grandfather Doc had with me.