The Man Who Raised Me Right

Dear Dad,

Since the very beginning—back when I was just a little girl with all that wild hair and a tiny face I’ve always felt your love.

Every single day of my life, I feel grateful and blessed knowing that you are my dad. Today is Father’s Day, and I figured this is the perfect time to say out loud what I feel every day in my heart.

We’ve both faced so many hard times, but the one thing that never wavered was how we stood by each other. We made it through not just because of the deep love we share, but because of the determination we carried through the struggle. That strength our strength kept us moving forward. And today, when I look at the parent I’ve become, I see your reflection. I’m proud of who I am, and I know I’m inspiring my own children to be their best all because of you.

Thank you for every responsibility you took on as a single dad. You carried it all with grace. You never let me feel like anything was missing. You tried your best with spaghetti, Hamburger Helper, Manwich (and always those green beans you insisted I needed to grow). You washed my clothes, made sure I was cared for, and somehow made it all feel normal better than normal. To me, you were and always will be Superman.

I’ll always remember your smile. Even when things were hard, you never let it show. You kept the laughter alive in our house, teaching me that joy and humor were essential parts of life. I still picture your goofy morning face trying to snap me out of my “I am NOT a morning person” mood. Those moments still make me smile. And yes, I know I was a handful. You were always getting calls from principals, teachers, nuns, and even the police… but you never made me feel like I was a bad kid. You just wanted me to find my way. You didn’t guilt me, you didn’t shame me you believed in me. Thank you for that. Thank you for reminding me of my worth, even when I was figuring out who I was. Whether it was painting my room dark, carrying around my infamous “pink box,” or diving deep into my artsy side you never tried to tame my spirit. Even when it embarrassed you a little, you let me be wild and free. You stood by me, as if you knew I needed to go through all of that… just to find Michele.

Dad, you’ll never fully know how deeply you’ve shaped me, or how much your love helped me become the parent I am today. When I see the goodness in my children, I see you. I could never thank you enough but I promise to spend the rest of my life trying.

All my love, always Michele