Man, Father, Daddy

A man is a boy, though older and wiser.
With no strings attached, life is his oyster.

A father is a figurehead,
A person who gave you life and kept you fed.
His presence, whether permanent or fleeting,
Often feels no warmer than a stranger’s greeting.

A daddy kisses boo-boos, makes pain go away,
Cops and robbers, catch, and tea party he’ll play.
He lends an ear or two whenever you need it;
There’s always a spot on his shoulder for tears when you’re defeated.
Daddies are strong, strict, and they’ll tell you whose boss,
But they’re great big teddy bears, who won’t let you get lost.

As the years go by and childhood fades,
He’ll forget you’re an adult and long for easier days,
Times filled with laughter, silliness, and singing
Instead of cars, proms, college, and weddings.
He’s tough as a nail, soft as marshmallow,
But you can always count on him for he’s never hollow.

Men, understand this reality—
A new generation lies in your hands of responsibility.
You’re so much more than a father ever can be
When you grow from a man and become a daddy.

Happy “Daddy’s” Day!

To my Apuka ~ You showed me what it meant to work hard, have fun, and love with all of my heart unconditionally. I hope one day my kids will learn the same from me. Most es mindig, sok szeretettel gondolok rad. Puszi, A.

To my man ~ Thank you for trying your hardest to be the best daddy every day. Parenting is by far the toughest challenge we’ve faced together, but it’s also the most rewarding. I love you!

Lost & Found at Sea a.k.a. Independence vs. Stupidity

Unless you’re living under a rock, you’ve heard about Abby Sunderland, the 16-year-old California teen who tried to sail around the world alone. Circumnavigating during the southern hemisphere’s winter season, she expected to hit massive storms and 30-foot plus tall waves.

Since she began her quest to be one of the youngest kids to sail solo around to the globe, she’d been plagued by technological difficulties—the latest of which broke her boat’s mast and knocked out satellite communications last Thursday. Thankfully, a French fishing boat rescued her after rescuers from Perth, Australia were able to locate her from a plane.

Her parents say she’s been sailing since she was a little kid and they never once questioned her desire to go it alone. In fact, they encouraged her adventure.

As a parent, one of the most difficult challenges we face every day, starting the day our babies are born, is letting our kids go to experience life. The biggest obstacle is determining when to cut the proverbial umbilical cord.

"In this day and age we get overprotective with our children. If you want to look at statistics, look at how many teenagers die in cars every year. Should we let teenagers drive cars? I think it'd be silly if we didn't," said Laurence Sunderland, Abby’s father.

Excuse me, Mr. Sunderland, but I beg to differ with your sentiment. Traffic accidents happen in civilization where our children have a fighting chance of getting emergency medical treatment that could very well save their lives. Sending our children alone into the wilderness, hours and days away from safety and help, is condoning a suicide mission.

The fact that Abby survived is a miracle. Had she perished at sea, I wonder if her parents would still take this cavalier attitude? Would they picture their daughter gasping for breath as a 30 foot wave swallows her? Would they imagine she drowned while being trapped under her overturned boat? Would they regret their decision to let her go every day for the rest of their lives?

I don’t care how experienced, courageous, or adventurous Abby is as a sailor. At 16, she is too young to vote, drink, and (in some states) even drive. She is a child. Until she turns 18, she is her parents’ responsibility and her parents—like all parents—should do everything in their power to protect her and keep her safe from herself, others, and, as in this case, Mother Nature.