Being a parent means late nights, early mornings, helping with homework, opening the peanut butter, teaching manners, saying no, saying yes, changing diapers, putting yourself second, making time, knowing why, faking it, making it better, setting an example, discipline, worry, happiness, fear, pride, and love.

Sometimes it means going for a glass of water and returning with an arm load of dirty clothes and toys while kicking a giant stuffed pink unicorn down the hall.

It means not only knowing but actually living with the reality that the difference between a child and a hurricane is that hurricanes only last a few days.

I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Happy Father’s day to all of you optimists out there.

[ This was also posted at The Blogfathers along with the thoughts from several other Fathers. Go check it out. ]