“Twenty years from now, the only people who will remember that you worked late are your kids.” — Unknown
It seems like every year this annual article sneaks up on me more quickly when I wish time could just stand still. This will be my seventh annual article chronicling my journey through fatherhood and, quite honestly, just when I think this experience can”™t get any better, it does.
Being present
My daughter Juliet”™s year in kindergarten is about to come to an end, complete with a graduation ceremony in cute little caps and gowns. It”™s hard to believe that my little girl will be entering first grade this coming fall. She had a wonderful year at school, and I thoroughly enjoyed all the times I got to drive her there and pick her up, attending her concerts, special class presentations and class holiday parties. I”™ve never missed one. And I realize that this is thanks in part to my flexible schedule as a certified nutrition coach, fitness coach and motivational speaker. Other parents aren”™t so fortunate in their work schedules. But I”™ve also turned down work and job offers, knowing that they would conflict with my daughter’s schedule.”¯ My time with her has no price tag.
Juliet started ballet this year and, as if she couldn”™t get any more precious, she brings a huge smile to my face when I watch her take these classes each week. I have gone out of my way never to miss any practices or classes, even when I”™m often one of the only males there. To me, everything else can wait. To me, nothing is more important. I want to be there, because I thoroughly enjoy watching. But I also want my daughter to know and understand that her daddy will always be there for her and will always support her. Whether it be ballet class, gymnastics practice, helping her practice violin (oh yeah she does that, too), going through her school folder and most recently becoming one of the coaches for her tee-ball team, I will continue to be present and supportive. These are two of the most important qualities any parent can have, especially with children at this age.
Practice makes progress
What has been great to see this past year has been Juliet”™s progress through these specific endeavors, and how sheer repetition at this age is often all it takes. I remember watching Juliet have trouble with the bridge position in gymnastics. Week by week it improved, and one day, boom, she stuck the bridge and hasn”™t looked back since. The same thing happened with climbing a vertical rope that attaches from the ceiling. Week after week, she”™d inch closer and closer to the top, and now it”™s automatic. From a school standpoint, it”™s been amazing watching her start to read words and sentences and seeing her fine motor skills improve each week. Sitting down with her and going through her Friday folder of all the assignments she”™s completed for the week is always a highlight. The list goes on and on here with watching her accomplish tasks that only months or weeks prior seemed distant. There are some good lessons here that we”™ve discussed, involving a lot of my favorite words, including determination, focus, perseverance, concentration and consistency, which can be applied to everything from wellness to the workplace.
Cherishing the moments
Selfishly, this annual article is partly written so one day Juliet can read and look back on my words, knowing that her daddy absolutely loves being her daddy. The moments are what continue to fuel me. Whether they be when Juliet takes a little fall in gymnastics but looks over at me immediately and gives me the thumbs up that she”™s OK, or blows kisses after nailing a split in ballet, getting to celebrate a nice play in tee-ball, and showing me the sentences she can read: These are just some of the moments that fill up my heart. These are the moments where there isn”™t even a question of wanting to do something else with my time. I”™ve written in past articles that I believe time is our most precious commodity and, for the past six years, my time has certainly been well spent. Here”™s to another year of being blessed with fatherhood.
Reach Gio at giovanniroselli.com.
