Hey, guys! I’m here to share my journey on supporting my daughter’s growth. It all started when my daughter was a little girl, and I knew I wanted to be a strong support for her.
At first, I didn’t really know how to do it. I mean, I was a dad, not a mom! But I decided to start by just being there for her. I’d go to her school events, like parent-teacher meetings and school plays. I’d sit in the audience and cheer her on, even if she was just one of many kids on stage. That was the first step, just showing up and being present.
Then, I realized I needed to talk to her more. I’d ask her about her day at school, what she liked, and what bothered her. It wasn’t always easy. Sometimes she’d just give me one-word answers, but I kept at it. I’d tell her about my day too, like how I had a tough time at work but managed to solve a problem. I wanted her to know that life has its ups and downs, and it’s okay to face challenges.
As she got older, she started to have her own interests. She loved painting. So, I took her to art galleries. We walked around, looking at all the paintings, and I’d ask her what she thought about them. Sometimes her ideas were really wild, and I’d just laugh and tell her how creative she was. I also bought her art supplies, like paints and canvases, and we’d paint together on weekends. It was so much fun!
But it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. There were times when she was sad because she didn’t make the school basketball team. I gave her a hug and told her that it didn’t matter. I said, “Hey, you’re good at so many other things. And maybe next time, you’ll work harder and make it.” I encouraged her to keep practicing basketball, and I even played with her in the backyard.
As she grew into a young woman, I noticed she was a bit shy when it came to making friends. So, I suggested she join a club at school. She joined a book club, and she met some really nice girls there. I could see her confidence growing. She’d come home and tell me all about the books they were reading and the discussions they had.
Now, my daughter is a confident and independent young lady. She’s doing well in school, has a great group of friends, and is still into painting. I’m so proud of her. Through this whole process, I learned that being a strong father for my daughter is all about being there, listening, and supporting her in whatever she wants to do. It’s not always easy, but it’s definitely worth it.