Watusi Posted February 12, 2014 Posted February 12, 2014 I don't have any daughters. I have boys and I love them more than anything. I understand boys and I am thankful God blessed my wife and I with two wonderful sons. Sometimes I feel sadness when I realize that there are things about not having a daughter that I will never experience. I have friends with daughters and I often envy them for those things because I see what a special bond they have with those little girls. I feel sadness on my wife's behalf sometimes too because she is really outnumbered by us, and she is surrounded by the crude and disgusting habits that we seem to enjoy. I'm sure she would have liked to have a daughter for an ally. Other times I see some of the special struggles that comes with raising girls, and I a happy that I have only boys to raise. That is magnified when they become teens, and exponentially magnified when they begin to date :eek: I think it would take a special kind of strength to watch your little girl grow up and go out and do things on her own without becoming an overprotective, interfering ogre. If that isn't enough, there is a day looming out there that you are expected to just GIVE her away??? I think the toughest thing to do in life would be to "give her away" on her wedding day, to a man, for life. As a daddy, it is your job to protect her, guide her, take care of her needs and help her to flourish. Of course you are preparing her all that time for her own life's journey, but it has to be the hardest thing in the world when it comes time to actually watch her go out on that journey. I don't know where you find the grit that it would take to stand up in front of everyone you know, and give her away and answer that awful question.
ACE Posted February 12, 2014 Posted February 12, 2014 I have 2 twenty-something daughters, both yet unmarried. We are very close and raising them has been a challenging at times for sure. They are a treat and I look forward to that closeness we have as we all grow older. It will be a difficult day to "give them away" but...hopefully they will be "prepared" for that day and that will help make it tolerable. I have a feeling I will have to dance with them at the reception to "Butterfly K Kisses"---that's when the tears will flow.:isurrender:
TheDeuce Posted February 12, 2014 Posted February 12, 2014 If I have a daughter one day, I will absolutely be an overprotective, interfering ogre. :lol2:
nkypete Posted February 12, 2014 Posted February 12, 2014 This is really touching stuff. I have two sons getting ready to propose. I sure wish I had one daughter to experience what it would be like.
Bluegrasscard Posted February 12, 2014 Posted February 12, 2014 I only have sons. But I have tried to ensure they are respectful to all women. Oh...and not be the first BF....
ACE Posted February 12, 2014 Posted February 12, 2014 Guys, when you have daughters, let me know....I now know all the investigative tricks, to the point where I know qualify as a CIA agent in waiting:ylsuper:
Clyde Posted February 12, 2014 Posted February 12, 2014 My daughter just finished grad school. Once you have a daughter you FULLY realize how blessed you are as a man. My children , while old enough to start thinking marriage, are on a slow path for that so I've got a lot of time to prepare for the "giving away" part. I still toss softball with my daughter. Small thing but it's a GREAT joy.
stickymitts Posted February 12, 2014 Posted February 12, 2014 Good stuff Toots. I think I can help. I'll hit you up so you can help pay for my daughter's wedding. You're welcome.
Getslow Posted February 12, 2014 Posted February 12, 2014 I'm a pretty old-fashioned guy anyway. I can't even imagine how much of a stodgy old curmudgeon I'm likely to appear to a teenage daughter sometime in the 2030s. It should be entertaining for all those around me.
Dlbdonn Posted February 12, 2014 Posted February 12, 2014 I have a daughter who is 30 , She married a great guy 5 years ago and they have a 3 year old son and are due to have another baby in August . It was one of the happiest days of my life when she got married and moved out of our house .
Randy Parker Posted February 12, 2014 Posted February 12, 2014 I've got an 8-year-old daughter & she's a lot like me in many respects (poor thing). I've found bribery to be quite effective early on. Paid her $50 to stay out of Girl Scouts & that worked. Pay her pretty nice for every "A" she gets on her report card. Have offered $10,000 cash if she is the valedictorian of her graduating class. And I'll probably offer her $25,000 to remain single her entire life. While I jest (only some) on that last sentence, I've read & believe that a father should constantly communicate to his daughter how much he loves her, how beautiful she is, & basically shower her with affection. We have regular Dad & Daughter dates where we will do something that she likes. Since I am her first interaction with a male, I am to set the standard high for how she is treated so she looks for the same when she gets to the age where she shows interest in dating/boyfriends/marriage. Having said all of that, I don't know how well I'll do at giving her away. I cried like a baby her first day of pre-school & did the same with Kindergarten. She's wanting to spend a week at 4H Camp in August--something both my wife and me are sidestepping as much as we can. I can't imagine the first time she leaves home in a vehicle without her mother or me. Or when she goes to her first Prom, first date, graduates high school, leaves for college. Giving her away for marriage? Ugh. Thanks for making me think of all this 2C. :irked:
Watusi Posted February 12, 2014 Author Posted February 12, 2014 For the record, my son did the 4H camp last year and loved it.
mcpapa Posted February 12, 2014 Posted February 12, 2014 I'm SHOCKED that Randy is old enough to have fathered a daughter.
mcpapa Posted February 12, 2014 Posted February 12, 2014 For the record, my son did the 4H camp last year and loved it. Sally down the alley.
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