Daddy's Little Girl!

I don't listen to country anymore. I did my senior year in high school and during my college years (I suspect everyone at UT Austin listens to it so I did). Tonight I was tired and just to brain dead to work, so I started listening to daughter themed songs. First I started with "Daughter" by Loudon Wainwright. Than YouTube started suggesting all the country songs about daughters: "My Wish", "Stealing Cinderella", and "I loved Her First".

It just made me think so much about my daughter Rachel and growing up myself. I didn't have a lot of self-worth as a child (I was always the one teased for being different). As I got older and became more attractive I became more popular but I didn't really feel better about myself. In college and after living in Las Vegas I learned to be proud of myself and I learned my self worth. I try not to get schmaltzy about religion but I know it was my faith that helped. I think I didn't want to have a daughter originally b/c I didn't want her to go through what a lot of younger girls go through these days. The pressure to be thin, popular, perfect, etc. I think is more prevalent today than just 10-15 yrs ago when I was coming of age. Pink's video "F**ing Perfect" is any mother's worse nightmare but when you read about girls like Demi Lovato struggling with eating disorders and cutting I realize it isn't far from reality for some.

Watching those cheesy Daddy/Daughter videos gave me a little peace. My daughter will have one thing I really didn't have, a daddy who worships her. Chris loves all of his children. He was so thrilled Harm was a boy and I know he anxiously awaits for boy scout camp outs and father/son trips; but there is something special about his bond with Rachel! He just adores her and she just lights up when he comes into the room. I know he will always tell her how beautiful and wonderful she is. That she is a daughter of God. No boy will be good enough for his princess. He will be polishing his gun when the guys come in and will only give away her hand when she finds a truly worthy suitor.

I think the media sometimes minimizes the roles of dad's. Not having been too close to my father I didn't see why they were so important to be quite honest until recently (and I'm not minimizing the great things women do for their kids). I just think the world is pretty dang hard and a good father can provide a base of stability and love that helps their son's and their daughter's lives as they weather through those hard years. I'm so glad we have our little girl and I'm so glad she has her Daddy who thinks the world of her :)