Jayna and I recently attended our first Daddy & Daughter Dance, and the sheer cuteness of the experience killed me. I’m dead now. The End.
OK, so I didn’t actually die … but a part of my heart did … because it occurred to me, as I was escorting her from my car to the dancehall, that she will someday go to a dance with a boy, and when that day comes, she will likely remember very little, if anything, about the night that her Daddy gave her a corsage that her Mommy made, or that he got the D.J. to play her favorite Justin Bieber song, or that he danced with her as many times as she’d let him, or that he marveled at what a beautiful and amazing little girl his daughter is, or that they had the most wonderful time they’ve ever had together, or that, during the car ride home, she told him it was the best night of her entire life.
But that’s OK … because I’ll never forget it.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I seem to have something in my eye.
39 Comments
Aaaawww, sweet.
She’ll remember. I know I do!
Oh my gosh, you’re killing me. She’ll remember! And if she doesn’t then show her this post and remind her that NO jerk will ever love her like you do! ; )
When people ask, “Do you want to have children, someday?” what they should really ask is, “Do you want to spend the rest of your life as an emotional wreck?”
BuenoBaby´s most recent blog post: Remembering In The Pale
Daughters don’t ever forget loving, caring fathers who request Justin Beiber songs. In my day it was Elvis……
Rilly´s most recent blog post: Wordless Wednesday……
And this is why Mark Cuban is dead fucking wrong.
This is the sweetest, most tender-hearted, lovely thing I’ve read in a long time. And that photo is perfect. Perfect.
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You requested Bieber? Would have thought she would be a Van Halen girl by now.
Great photo. Sweeter post.
Kudos, man!
MD´s most recent blog post: CHAOS THEORY: February 2012
That’s sweet. My first such event involved both me and my sister, so we involved a close uncle to share the “daddy” duties. I totally remember it. Except for my sister. It’s like she wasn’t even there.
red´s most recent blog post: The Movie Whore is Hungry For More Hunger Games
Awwh I’m not the mushy type but there is something in my eye now as well.
Vivian´s most recent blog post: SPAM WHAM
I’ve heard about these but haven’t had one yet. Now I’m a little bit afraid to go.
the muskrat´s most recent blog post: milestones and molars
What a fantastic picture! Your story made me get a little misty eyed.
Damn ninjas, cutting onions in my room again.
Freaking kids. They can be so cruel.
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When I was about 12 or 13, my dad took me out on a “date”. Mom fixed my hair, Dad and I both wore nice clothes (my mom even loaned me some of her good jewelry!) and we went to a very nice restaurant and we even danced. I was told some years later that part of the purpose of it was to set the bar pretty damn high for boys who were yet to follow. And it worked.
Any boys I dated, including the one I was with for three years, didn’t dare honk the horn to get me to come outside, whether or not they’d seen me watching for them; coming to the door was mandatory. Likewise, I waited sweetly for them to pull my chair out for me and for them to open doors for me (and always said thank-you). And no way was I to open my own car door. Dad was old-fashioned like that while simultaneously he (and my mom) raised me to believe I could be anything I wanted. I realize now that must have been some balancing act for him especially.
I bring this up in response to your post because, if you’re unsure Jayna will remember this Daddy & Daughter event, do it again when she’s a tween. I guarantee she’ll remember it and carry it warm and safe in her heart the rest of her life. :)
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Thanks for sharing this; takes me back to my very own Daddy Daughter Date with my dad some 35+ years ago. And no, she won’t forget. You’ll always be her #1.
I somehow got something in both my eyes.
This is your best post ever.
Dammit! Now I have something in MY eye! And I think I need to call my dad. Just to remind him that even after all these years, he’s still got my heart.
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Aw, there’s something in my eye too. The picture and post are absolutely perfect.
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My favorite post of all time.
This eye thing is catching. Damn allergies!
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Oh, she’ll remember it. I never had any daddy daughter dances to attend. Dancing was a no no at our small Christian school. It was a little like Footloose, except we didn’t have to leave the county to go to a dance. We just had to get a boy from the public school across town to ask us to one of their dances. So even though we never had a dance to go to, I remember my dad taking me out for something special every once in a while. One time it was the circus, one time it was a demolition derby. (Wow, between the Footloose comparison and the demolition derby, I am realizing I am a complete hillbilly.) Each date ended with us at Bog Boy sharing a hot fudge brownie sundae. I didn’t really care where we went because I got to go with him. It was really special just being me and him considering there were four of us kids.
Way to set the bar really high for all of your girl’s future dates.
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Awwww. I think this might be the first time Daddy Scratches has made me cry. Actually cry… not laugh myself to tears, ’cause that happens often.
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Take it from me, a ‘Daddy’s girl’ at heart, that she will not forget. The picture is perfect and immediately reminded me of the father/daughter dance with my Dad at my wedding. I think I was hugging his neck in the same way Jayna is clinging to yours.
My Dad was notorious for taking me on spontaneous ‘date nights’ growing up. Sometimes we’d hit a late night movie on a school night, catch a hockey game or he’d pick me up from school early and let me ditch class. My point is that it really didn’t matter what we did, to this day those moments are still fresh in my mind (this coming from a 28 yr old!).
This post was simple and perfect and subsequently caused me to shed tears at my desk.
Totally love this. Not long ago, my munchkin (who’s 9) and I were on our way to the park. Half way down the path she stops, turns, and slowly walks back to me. Then, in a calm, trying to be reassuring voice she says to me. “Dad, I just want to let you know, in my teenage years, I’m going to be really hard to handle.” As I stood there speechless she spun on her heals and ran off to the play ground. Oh, I rue the day she starts dating.
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That’s so sweet! And the future boyfriend would have no chance in my house, that picture would be framed in the entryway…
Damn…it’s like pink eye…only worse, because of the emotions. But it’s sweet too. My dad never did anything like that, but we did attend Indian Princesses together, where we dressed up like Indians, went camping, slept in teepees and did all kinds of cool crafty things together. It was awesomeness!
I’m sure she’ll never forget, and I agree with the person above that suggested you take her out like that again, when she’s a tween, and then maybe again right before she gets to the age when you will permit her to start dating.
Now I’m going to go cry….thanks
I totally remember dancing with my dad, standing on his feet part of the time. By the time she brings a boyfriend around, she will have changed from who she is now, and if you really love her and want her to grow into a loving adult, you’ll be able to hold yourself back from assaulting the boyfriends. Whether or not you’ll be able to refrain from commenting on their shortcomings on the Internet, well… that remains to be seen. Enjoy the moments with your daughter, knowing that each of them is a temporary gift.
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So sweet.
I remember my father daughter dance from grade school. It was part of a girl scout event.
My dad and I have always been close. I spent more friday night’s at the mall with him than my friends.
And just a month ago he danced with me at my wedding.
Don’t worry… you’ll always be her number 1 guy.
Man, I have the eye thing too! This post should come with a handkerchief.
Missing my Daddy right now. Had to shut the office door so staff wouldn’t see me with tears running down my face.
Officially I will be having an allergy attack.
My dad bought me a pair of Jordache jeans (against my mom’s wishes) simply because they made me happy. Props to the pops!
*sniff* Beautifully said. Now, time to talk to my husband about getting our 10-year-old daughter out on a date soon.
Aww that is so sweet. And I seem to have something in my eye too. How weird is that?
Love this post….love the picture! She will NEVER forget her father/ daughter dance with you. She may forget the Bieb, but not you and how you made her feel like a princess. It’s been a long time and I still remember the father /daughter dance with my dad. One of my best memories.
You’ve given her a great memory.
I don’t read too many dad blogs b/c I haven’t found that many but must I say…you’re an awesome dad!!!!
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I love the pic bro.
Thanks, man.
She WILL remember it. I am in my 50′s and I remember all the Daddy/Daughter dances we went to.
Awwww….this is such a beautiful article. Im only 22 but I would just love to have a daughter. They are so gentle and beautiful. Im sure parting with them would be like hell…