WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A FATHER?

"Happy Father's day Papa!" My little Sophie happily greeted me last sunday, wearing her patented smile that never fails to warm my heart. It was a normal morning scene in our lives where she come to me for a warm morning hug and a kiss as if we haven't seen each other for months. This time, I acted indifferent and wore a serious face and asked her "What is Father's day anyway?" She stared at me surprised by my question, but more surprised with my indifference. She felt unwelcome and embarrassed. She turned her back and run straight to her ate Kiana for the rescue. "Ate Kiana! What is father's day?" I could hear her shouting to her ate at the adjascent room. 

The concern in her voice was unmistakeable. She came back tugging along her ate wearing a faint smile as if she just hired the best lawyer in town who can aquit her what ever pity crime she did. Her ate Kiana came with a smile too. She was confident she can answer any question I might throw. But her smile suddenly vanished when she saw my face without any trace of smile. She knew I'm not in the mood. At least thats what she thught. There was an long awkward moment. They stood in front of me not knowing what to do. I enjoyed every moment of it. Here's the two clueless little girls how much they really meant to me.

Out of pity, I broke the ice and repeated my 64 dollar question : What does "Father's day" meant? Little Sophie looked down without any plan to answer my question. She honestly don't know the answer. Kiana looked a bit eager but hessitated. "What is father's day?" I asked again. "It's the day for all the fathers." She uttered without conviction. I kept silent. "It's like a birthday" Kiana managed to follow-up another answer. Still I kept silent. "It's like a heroes day, like a holiday... like.... Araw ng mga Patay." She answered seriously. I almost burst to laughter with her last answer but managed to bite my tongue. So I smiled and asked them to come nearer and gave them a big hug. I could see the relief in thier eyes when I smiled and it made our hugs with each other more meaningful. In less than a minute, they're gone again back to their laptops and tabs.

PART 2

That little episode left me thinking how father's day was made an official day. At 42, having 2 kids and having read hundreds of books out there, I still haven't read about of what it is to be a father. Is it difficult? Is it exciting? Is it challenging? Is it fun? Is it boring? Or is it nothing special. The answers could be all of the above or none of the above depending on who you ask. But if you ask me, becoming a father is more than that. For me, becoming a father is life-changing and more.