Everything I Know About Love, I Learned From Watching Him

Everything I Know About Love, I Learned From Watching Him

My Dad Through My Eyes

When I was little, I thought my dad was the biggest person in the world. I remember looking up at him and believing he could touch the clouds if he wanted to. To me, he was taller than every other dad, stronger than every superhero, and safer than any place I had ever been. As a child, I measured greatness in simple ways. I thought the strongest person was the best person, and my dad seemed stronger than everyone. But as I grew older, I realized that what made my father extraordinary had very little to do with his height or physical strength. The older I became, the more I discovered qualities in him that were far more impressive than muscles or size.

Towering is the first word that comes to mind when I think about my dad as a child. Of course, he was physically tall, but to me he seemed even larger than life. When I held his hand, I felt completely protected. If I was scared, he could make the fear disappear. If I was sad, he could make me smile. He coached my softball team, attended my recitals, practices, and tournaments, and somehow always seemed to know exactly where he was needed. I believed that nothing bad could happen when my dad was nearby. In my childhood eyes, he stood taller than everyone else because he was my protector.

Anchoring is how I would describe him as I grew older. An anchor keeps a ship steady during rough waters and my dad has always done the same for our family. No matter what challenges arose, he remained calm and dependable. Every Sunday, we would meet at Starbucks and talk about life. At the time, I thought we were simply having coffee together. Now, I realize he was quietly building a foundation beneath me. He listened to my concerns, celebrated my successes, and helped me navigate my failures. While other things in life changed, my dad remained a constant source of stability.

Expansive is another adjective that captures who my father is. My dad never limited life to what was familiar or comfortable. Instead, he opened doors to new experiences and adventures. Some of my favorite memories involve traveling with him. We explored places near and far, often getting wonderfully lost along the way. My mom or I would hold the map while he confidently searched for the best route, even when the route was not exactly cooperating. We spent hours singing Motown songs in the car and laughing together. Through those experiences, my dad taught me that life was meant to be explored and that curiosity was something to celebrate.

Illuminating describes the way he taught me to see the world. My dad is a scientist, but he has always had a gift for making learning exciting. One of my favorite memories is when he came to my kindergarten classroom and conducted a chemistry demonstration. My classmates were amazed, and so was I. He had a way of making complicated things understandable and fascinating. Whether he was explaining science, offering advice, or helping me understand a difficult situation, he always seemed able to shine light where there was confusion. He didn’t just give answers; he taught me how to think.

Generative is a word I appreciate more now that I am a parent myself. A generative person creates growth in others, and that perfectly describes my father. His influence did not stop with me. He has poured the same love, support, and encouragement into my sons, Jack and Jacob. He attends Grandparents’ Day events, school programs, sports games, and award ceremonies. He helped celebrate Jack’s first bike and has been there for countless milestones. He and my mom have given my boys opportunities, encouragement, and memories that will stay with them forever. Watching him love my children has shown me that great fathers never stop being fathers.

Transformative is the adjective that best describes how I see my dad today. When I was little, I thought his greatest gift was making me feel safe. As an adult, I realize his greatest gift has been shaping who I am. His example taught me how to love generously, work diligently, stay curious, and support others without hesitation. He showed me that success is not measured by accomplishments alone but by the positive impact you have on other people. His recent Presidential Award for Mentorship only confirmed what I have known all along: my dad changes lives.

As my perspective has matured, so has my understanding of my father. The little girl who once believed her dad was the tallest man in the world was not entirely wrong. Today, I know his greatness was never about his height. He is towering in protection, anchoring in support, expansive in vision, illuminating in wisdom, generative in love, and transformative in influence.

Those qualities make him far larger than any childhood memory of physical strength. They make him the extraordinary father, grandfather, mentor, and role model I am proud to call my dad.