Reflections on Being a Father: Four Years Goes Fast; Life Goes Faster

My oldest son is now four years young—a quarter of the way to 16. Boy did that go fast. And my youngest son is speeding toward two.

That’s one way to look at it. Or, man, did I just collect a million amazing memories in the last four years. Smiles, laughs and tears of happiness watching a baby grow into a little man.

A long time ago I made the decision that I was going to live life great. I wanted to embrace every event, positive and negative, as learning experiences to help me become a better person—something I am working at on a daily basis. In my personal life, Jagger, my four-year-old, has helped make me a better person. His contagious smile (positive) and his explosive toddler rage (negative) help me understand his needs and what = happiness for him. His = happiness drives me to do my best to teach him well and lead him to the pool of happiness as best as I can.

I think the greatest part of being a father is knowing that you are a hero—even when you say “Jagger, I love you lots,” and he laughs and says, “Dad, I love you little.” I know I am his solution to every problem. Afraid of the dark? I am there to save him. Excited about his art project? I am there to appreciate him. The good, the bad and the ugly—I am his special solution.

For Lennon, my youngest, I know he looks to me to make him smile and laugh. Thanks to technology, now, even when I travel, he lights up when I FaceTime him. He needs me to protect him when he falls and create assurance that love does exist when I make him smile.

I would love to freeze time, right now (as I am sure you would, too). I am so happy when I am around my family, and I want more time in each day to earn more smiles and laughs. Reality shows us that time is a unicorn.

Nobody needs somebody to tell them life is short. That is an absolute certain. What we do need is those in our lives to remind us to smell the roses as close to every minute of every day. Find = happiness in the sadness and best moments because they will come and go way too fast.