A Dad Watches His Daughter
My teen daughter runs sprints and relays for her high school track team. She and the other girls are fast, and in fact won their league title. This past weekend they competed in a regional post-season tournament an hour’s drive away.
My ex had custody of the kids, and my son didn’t want to attend. No big deal, I enjoy watching my daughter run and cheering on her entire team. I happily agreed to go with her.
Only one problem – her two events were scheduled six hours apart.
A typical track meet only takes a few hours. But there were so many schools competing in this regional meet, each race needed four heats. And there was no way I wanted to sit through so much track when my daughter’s team would only compete a quarter of the time, at best. (They didn’t qualify in every discipline.)
Turns out my daughter didn’t want to stay either. So after her first race, we headed home. We enjoyed some father daughter bonding time over lunch, then she hit the books for a few hours of study. (Yes, they assign homework on a 3-day weekend.)
That night, her mom drove our daughter to the meet. I planned to go, too. But to tell the truth, I wasn’t that excited about making the hour drive (each way!) again.
While my daughter and her mom were en route (she needed to be there early to warm-up), she called me for directions.
“Do you mind if I’m not there?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” my daughter said.
I’ve been a dad long enough to know what she really meant: “you better show up – or I’ll be crushed!”
I went to the meet and watched my daughter run her second event. I cheered when she and each of her relay-mates sprinted by, and yelled even louder when they were on the opposite side of the track.
A spectator next to me asked if I really thought they could hear me from so far away.
“Oh, yeah,” I said. “My daughter told me the crowd is just noise to her. But there are two voices she hears clearly at every meet. Her coach, and her dad.”
They won their heat, and set a new school record in the process.
And this dad is plenty glad he watched his daughter run.
Judging by the hug and kiss my daughter gave me after the meet, she was plenty glad her dad showed up.
- Father Daughter Hit the Pump
- My Teenage Daughter is a Fast Girl
- Track Season is for Lovers
- What a Dad Should Know About His Daughter
- When a Single Dad’s Daughter Needs Girl Stuff
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Comment by MindyMom
| May 25th, 2009
Aw. It is hard to attend every event our kids have, and the more kids you have the harder that becomes. Sometimes we don’t feel like going, but when we make the effort anyway it means a lot to them. It’s nice for your daughter you made the trip again and she obviously appreciated it.
MindyMom´s last blog post..Me: The Common Denominator
Comment by Laura
| May 25th, 2009
Thats so very cute man!!!
We havent got to sport events yet!!
Comment by The Exception
| May 25th, 2009
that is awesome you heard her and made the trip! What a wonderful relationship you have!
The Exception´s last blog post..Stop, Breathe, Notice
Comment by SingleParentPlus2
| May 25th, 2009
Wise choice my friend, wise choice! My girls are just saplings and they never forget a thing.
SingleParentPlus2´s last blog post..Splinter Extraction 101
Comment by T
| May 25th, 2009
Sweet. It is always inspiring to see the love and respect that dad’s give their children. Especially to listen close enough to read between the lines…. beautiful.
Sounds like you had a great weekend!
T´s last blog post..Cautious Optimism
Comment by notasoccermom
| May 25th, 2009
Truly- you have earned the title- a Father!
great for you both!
and congrats to your daughter, that is no small feat- no pun intended. (ok, maybe it was intended)
notasoccermom´s last blog post..Single mothers where you least expect them
Comment by MommaSunshine
| May 25th, 2009
I remember reading somewhere once that girls with good relationships with their dads had better self-esteem. You’re doing a good thing by your little girl. :)
MommaSunshine´s last blog post..What’s so great about US, anyhow? – Part I
Comment by Susan
| May 25th, 2009
I loved this post, David. Your daughter is lucky to have you!
Susan´s last blog post..Taking a bow
Comment by Janet
| May 25th, 2009
Totally agree with MommaSunshine. Good job, David!
Janet´s last blog post..Three-Day Weekend, Will You Marry Me? (As Soon As I’m Divorced?)
Comment by Alicia
| May 25th, 2009
Growing up, my dad was a workaholic. But he made it a point to show up (usually late) but ALWAYS THERE to all of my recitals, sports games, awards ceremonies, etc. and his being there was the BEST. Nothing says love like just… being there. You’re an awesome dad, too! Btw, is that your daughter in that photo or is that a stock model pic??? Either way, she’s gorgeous!
Alicia´s last blog post..Getting to Truly Deeply Satisfied
Comment by Vinomom
| May 25th, 2009
Nice intuition. I hope I get good enough at the parenting thing to read minds like that someday. I love when this sort of thing happens. You don’t really want to do something but go ahead with it anyways and then are totally glad you did. Good Job.
Vinomom´s last blog post..Memorial Weekend Breakdown (I’m partied out!)
Comment by coolred38
| May 25th, 2009
Watching my kids grow up in a country in which English was the second language…all their school programs and events etc were not in English..consequently I never really knew what was going on….all I did know was that when their names were called and they walked on to the stage or did their thing whatever it was…Mom was standing there clapping and cheering to beat the band. What made it more noticeable is that in this culture clapping etc is not always seen as “proper”…women should be seen and not heard (and usually not even seen)…so their smiles were even broader then usual since they knew I was ignoring “social etiquette” just to show my pleasure for their accomplishments. Good times they wont forget.
Comment by dadshouse
| May 25th, 2009
Now then, what would you all say if I admitted to be Twittering on my mobile device the whole time I was at the track meet?
Ha! Don’t worry, I wasn’t. Just a daily reminder that Twitter is Bad You.
Coolred38 – to hell with social etiquette! Good for you. They’ll remember that for sure.
Alicia – stock photo. But my daughter is super cute. In fact, some say a knock out!
Comment by Gilit Frank
| May 26th, 2009
Good for you – I have one son, but I have to go to most of his events cause his (sort of deadbeat) dad (this isn’t my real name so noone will know who he is) works long hours in the film industry so claims not to be available on Friday mornings (which is probably true). In Israel, it’s a 5 day work week, with schools being open on Friday but most parents being off. So Friday is the day for most ‘end of the year” activities and I’m there.. after 15 years, I know that he’ll remember that I was there and his dad wasn’t, but there’s nothing I can do except say kudos to those dads who do take a more active role in their children’s lives.
Comment by SoloDad
| May 26th, 2009
My daughter is soon to turn 25 and the memories formed by attending scads of dance recitals and dramatic presentations are as fresh as the experiences you describe here. There is nothing like a Dad ‘being there’ for his daughter – even if- he doesn’t live with her full-time. Goodonya, David.
SoloDad´s last blog post..Summers: Hard Times for Working Solo-Parents
Comment by Andrea as Venus
| May 26th, 2009
There are lots of things we don’t feel like doing but will if we know our kids are counting on us. I don’t always feel like reading books at bedtime or going to my son’s school assembly but I know he’d think about it later if I didn’t go. So I do.
Andrea as Venus´s last blog post..Random Tuesday Thoughts : Watch This
Comment by Danielle
| May 26th, 2009
What an awesome dad you are. I wish my daughter was as lucky.
Danielle´s last blog post..The mini panic attack
Comment by Robin
| May 26th, 2009
Only twice, I think? was I unable to drive the hours it’d take to get to one of my daughter’s competitions when with her dad / his girlfriend. It really does make a difference to our children, and they notice if we just show up, or if we actually watch and care, too:) I’m glad your children have involved and caring parents.
Comment by ilinap
| May 26th, 2009
Now that is an awesome story.
Comment by katherine.
| May 26th, 2009
you are indeed a great dad….and you read the “I don’t know” exactly right.
but a little advice from been there done that…DO NOT MISS A MINUTE…she is almost in college…living on her own….et cetera.
Before you know it these chances will be gone.
Colleges only have Parents’ Day once a year…(twice if she joins a sorority) And after college? well…trust me you can only visit them at their offices once or twice a year.
katherine.´s last blog post..In Idaho…they are just a little more free…
Comment by Heather
| September 29th, 2009
That’s awesome!! I ran track in HS too! I wish my dad would have been able to go to my meets, but he lived 4 hours away! But your daughter is right, it’s just background noise. You don’t hear anything except the voices you want to hear, (lol not a nut here) and that was my coach and my teammates!
Heather´s last blog ..my….my….my….