OPINION: Just Another Week

This Father’s Day meant a little more to me.

Last Tuesday, my wife and I welcomed our second child, Leo Everett Dannehy. We planned on having children closer together, but even after spending thousands of dollars on infertility treatment, it just wasn’t in the cards. That may be a story for another time, but Leo was the best surprise.

This time around, fathering an infant feels different. When Hayden was born, I kept hearing “The days are long, but the years are short,” but I couldn’t possibly understand that concept. With a child who just finished first grade, I can appreciate the 4 a.m. feedings more. I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel and baby snuggles won’t last forever. I can sleep later.

Whether it’s holding our baby or playing with our child, I love being a dad. It is my most important job. While I’ve won awards for journalism and photography, I think being known as a great father would be the best legacy to leave behind. I can’t help but think of my own father. 

My dad never got to see any of his three sons become fathers, but I know he would be proud of us all today. Dad wasn’t around a lot when I was young, he worked every weekday and usually on weekends. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized how lucky I was.

When my parents divorced, my dad took parenting classes. He learned how to cook and handle his five children the best he could. He simply wasn’t prepared be a single parent, but he tried his best and it couldn’t have been easy with five children under 12. 

As adults, he was always there for us. He seemed to take joy in helping us move — though that may partly have been just to remind us that he was still the strongest (but smell isn’t everything, he would say). 

It saddens me to know that my children will never get to meet their grandfather. He passed away in 2015, my oldest son was born in 2016. I would give anything to see them interact — instead, my boys will have to settle for stories.

I can’t pretend to know the specifics, but my brothers also seem to have a good grasp on the whole fatherhood thing. Somewhere, my dad has to be smiling knowing he raised three good fathers. 

What’s better than that? 

(Sidenote: We, as a society, don’t talk enough about how incredible childbirth is. I’m in awe of what my amazing wife went through to bring our boys into the world.)