by Terry Bush
I was 56 when my daughter Charlotte was born, pretty mature for a rookie dad. I’m 61 now. Grandfather vintage. I’m going to get a t-shirt to wear when we’re out together: “Nope, I’m her Dear Old Dad.”
There have been a lot of jokes about this. My fave: Can you get children’s books in large print editions?
Truth is, I think I have better Dadhood skills now than when I was younger. I’m certainly better at living in the present than I was when a career seemed very important.
The present is a quiet place between the stresses of the past and the uncertainties of the future. It has taken me years to learn how to truly focus on Charly, my wife and our lives together while the rest of world seems to be having a nervous breakdown.
I’m also better at getting through tough times. The longer you live, the more tough times you have, and the more you appreciate Dory’s wisdom in Nemo: “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”
Really, about the only thing I don’t like about being Dear Old Dad is the mathematics of it. Story problem: When Charly is 16 years old, how old will her Dear Old Dad be?
Those story problems will solve themselves later. I am with her, right here, right now and that’s all that really matters.
Terry Bush is a writer, guitar player and retired university vice president. He teaches for the University of Phoenix on-line, manages the chambanamoms.com event calendar and serves as the domestic staff of his 4-year-old daughter, Charly.