Father’s Day for empty nester Mike is a tradition of calling his daughter and saying, “ARE YOU STILL MY LITTLE GIRL BECAUSE I AM STILL YOUR PROUD DAD?” He knows she will call from her kitchen and he still likes dialing her number from his.
What child wouldn’t want to get that phone call? What Dad doesn’t feel that way about his children?
Father’s Day is around the corner. My dad died years ago. I get tearful when I miss him. Missing is unpredictable so I simply let myself tear up, smile, and try to remember his voice saying my name. I never forget the feeling of dad.
A father shared with me this week that he too gets tearful remembering his dad and would just love to tell him how much he learned from he, like LET IT BE and KEEP TRYING, but mostly he wants his dad to know he is a happy dad now with two kids in college and one married.
You know what always brings a smile to me? When I am out and about and see dad’s with their children. I have seen that increase in the past three years as have the calls coming into my office from empty nester dads or those on the way to the big hug goodbye.
When I see the dad’s out and about with their children I make up stories like, he is giving his wife/partner a break or he just really wanted this time alone with them, or he is divorced or simply never had a partner.
Bottom line is, it gives me a big smile. My daughter who lives in another city also comments about seeing more dad’s out and about with their children and it too makes her happy. Shift in roles is a good sign.
What would you shout out to your dad? What would you want him to say to you?
My dad knew how much I loved him and I knew how much he loved me. We said it. We hugged it. We smiled it. We hung out together even though I never got the glory of golf.
His granddaughter, my child, also felt loved and loved him back. They didn’t have to say why they loved each other, they just did. They just felt it.
Forever comforting to have shared that kind of love…..
Find your memories and kiss them.
Take care,
Natalie
Los Angeles, CA
818-763-0188
natalie@emptynestsupport.com
www.emptynestsupport.com
Natalie Caine, M.A. natalie@lifeintransition.org
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