Thank Heaven for Little Girls

Hey Dad,

As I type away on my computer in my basement office, my little daughter Maggie (8) is hosting a tea party for a couple of her friends. She’s so excited and has been talking about it for a week. She had me bring up the card table and has it all decorated with tea cups and little snacks.

Last night she begged me to help her assemble little wooden bird houses so they could paint them. Then she had me make some snowman place cards.

I didn’t want to, but I knew that I was doing something eternal and this window wouldn’t be open for very long. In fact, her sister Katherine (15) used to use the same card table to host her own little tea parties. But she’s grown up now and doesn’t have tea parties like she used to, and one day neither will Maggie.

Oh, to father with that in mind. To live knowing that the little boys who want you to push them on the swing or watch them ride their bikes will one day be driving cars. Little girls who want you to read to them will one day be texting friends and making other plans.

So, my fellow dad, when they ask you to wrestle, watch, or make tea party preparations, smile and enjoy every minute of it.

You ‘da dad,

Todd