Dependence Day Every Day

by Anthony Romanelli

While I DO take time to celebrate our country's freedom, I want to celebrate/ recognize the good fortune I have as a father.  I have a loving wife, of whom I am extremely grateful and two little girls whose smiles light up every room into which they walk/crawl at the moment. 

How does that TRULY get celebrated?  Father's Day?  Not so much...while the gifts are thoughtful (and some outlandish-iPhones and the like-of which I WILL be purchasing July 11) it's not the gifts...it's the fact that, whether you like it or not-YOU ARE THE MAN...it's what I like to call DEPENDENCE DAY

Dependence Day-wake yourself up, wipe that crap from your eyes, shower, suck down some coffee and do what you've got to do to put a smile on your son or daughter's face.  They don't care that you have torn BOTH your ACL's and your knees crack every morning when you wake up.  They don't care that you have a meeting tomorrow and you ‘might be home late.' 

Dependence Day is EVERY DAY.  Your children depend on you for everything-being there, picking up the toys, feeding them, clothing them, making them laugh, teaching them to when to fart, when not to...

Dependence Day-your son will depend on you to teach him how to throw a spiral or will look up to you as you explain the intricacies of Cubs v. Cardinals or Red Sox v. Yankees.  He may not know that, but he IS depending on you for that knowledge...

Dependence Day-Your daughter will depend on you to look her ‘new boyfriend,' up and down and up and down...and then make him EXTREMELY uncomfortable... She may not know that, but she IS depending on you for that...not then, that's for damn sure...but later she will understand and appreciate her dependence and trust she put in you to even THINK about introducing you in the first place...

Dependence Day-taking pride in being the tooth fairy and knowing your son is PRAYING there's some serious coin under his pillow (or at least SOME coin).  Taking pride in the fact that you were there the day your daughter's training wheels came off. 

Dependence Day-the greatest days are always ahead, knowing you have helped raise your sons and daughters to be the most INDEPENDENT that they could be...now THAT'S worth celebrating...