Fresh off a debilitating bout of vertigo, I wanted to share a heartwarming note I received from my thoughtful son. Unexpectedly left for me on the breakfast nook table, it was a pleasant surprise given my current stretch run of fatherhood. I am running on empty – emotionally and mentally. I am knee deep in the trenches of missed school assignments, junky bedrooms, lippy protests, and overall confounding behavior. To be sure, fatherhood is not for the faint of heart. Undoubtedly, it is a laborious undertaking of love, obligation, and sacrifice. At times, a gentleman can feel overwhelmed, frustrated, unappreciated, and lost – floating aimlessly adrift in a sea of chaos. Your voice feels muted and you seemingly appear invisible to everyone around you.

And so, just when a gentleman is drowning in thankless responsibility, a token of love and appreciation provides clarity and perspective to his role as father. To my brethren in the parenting struggle, even if this letter was not penned for you, this letter should speak to you. This note brightened an otherwise gloomy period for me. It acknowledged my value and reinforced my resolve to stay engaged as a father. Children really do pay attention, even when you do not believe they are looking. This continuous journey is a long one. For sure, it is a journey of peaks and valleys. I am becoming wise enough to appreciate both. I think I will frame this note and keep it nearby as a personal, gentle reminder that I am loved and valued – even when I have commanded that a room be cleaned for the thousandth time!