Odd Man Out: Dancing With My Daughter!
I have to admit I was a bit nervous. It was the first date I'd had in a while & I really wanted to impress the young lady who would be on my arm. I took the day off just to make sure I could attend our big event, and put on the most expensive suit I've ever bought (it was only expensive because I was too dumb to wait for the sale!).
My date was even more lovely. She wore a purple, black, & white dress with a floral pattern across the front. Her hair was beautiful with her pony tails all curled at the end, accented with purple bows. And she was just as excited as I was! She, of course, is my 6-year-old daughter Raegan and we were headed to the Daughter-Daddy Dance at her elementary school. Our first stop once we left home: McDonald's.
I had lobbied for dinner somewhere that was a little more upscale, like Chili's or Applebee's. But it was Raegan's choice & she decided she wanted a Happy Meal. After dinner we headed straight for the school & when we arrived the parking lot already was packed. One dad even rented a limo for his daughter & him! When we got inside the place was all decked out like it was prom night (my wife helped put up the decorations earlier in the day). Refreshments included cookies, brownies, & Capri Suns! Most of the dads ventured out on the floor with their daughters at least once or twice, and when the dads got tired the young ladies just stayed on the floor and danced with each other. That dancing together thing must be caused by a female gene that operates well into adulthood!
It was so great to not only hang out with my Baby Girl, but also with other dads who love their daughters as much as I love mine. You could tell some of the men were a little out of their comfort zone, but once they danced with their girls they lightened up a bit. The most important thing is that we were all able to take the time to hang out with our little girls. Like all daughter-daddy dances, this one was designed to allow dads to teach their girls early how they are supposed to be treated whenever they go out on a date: with class, respect, & honor. The message is: "You're special young lady!" It's a message women need to hear all their lives.
I try to take my four daughters on monthly dates. The idea is to give each girl an individual date, and we rotate every month. It's not only a time to exhibit a little chivalry, but a time to give each girl some much-needed attention, have fun, & just talk. Dance & cheer practices, along with a host of other challenges we call a schedule often get in the way & cause us to postpone a date. But as they get older I'm realizing it's more and more important for Dad to give them that time. I want them to know from me just how special they are & that they should never date a guy who won't treat them with the same care & respect. If he shows up late, doesn't open the door for you, doesn't listen to you, or doesn't pay for the meal drop that sucker like a hot cake! If he's not respecting you & your heart now he's not going to flip a switch one day and suddenly become Mr. Right.
These daughter-daddy dates also leave lasting memories. Raegan & I made up our own little dance on our date. Just this past weekend she was dancing with her sisters, my wife, & my cousin (females dancing together again) in the living room. They were having a ton of fun together, but Raegan suddenly left the group and ran to me in the kitchen. She grabbed my hand and asked me to dance & she started doing the dance we made up at the daughter-daddy event! Precious memories that I pray will stay in both our hearts when we're old & gray. Here's to dancing with your daughter!
-Keith Garvin/@txakeith
