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As I am trying to write this article, my 6 year old son is running full throttle through the house in his Ninja Turtle underwear being chased by my husband, otherwise known as "MONSTER DADDY." Daryl came up with this game when my oldest daughter was a toddler. He simply glares at the kids with evil eyes and begins walking towards them like a zombie. He does it when they least expect it. So they take off screaming and running, looking for a place to hide. They have to get to the couch (the safety zone) before he finds them. No great skill is required for this game. You just need healthy lungs for screaming, legs for running, and a fear of zombies (Ninja Turtle underwear optional).

I tried being "Monster Mommy" once but the kids just laughed and told me I wasn't scary enough. It is definitely daddy's game. And I can appreciate that because my dad made up games that my mom was not capable of imitating. As wonderful as mom is, my dad provided a presence in the household that she could not. I had no use for Superman or Batman because Will Blythe was my superhero.

My dad came home from working all day exhausted and hungry but ready to play. When I heard the car door slam, I ran to my usual hiding spot (behind the couch). I have no idea why I hid in the same spot everyday but my dad would search the house as if he couldn't hear my laughter or see my legs sticking out in plain sight. I truly believed he could jump over tall buildings in a single bound or catch a speeding bullet in his teeth. I wasn't so sure about the whole flying thing. But I had my suspicions that he could. The child in me still believes he's super-human. The adult in me knows he's not but I still respect and revere him with the same admiration that I did as an unrealistic 5 year old.

I know that not everyone was afforded the privilege of a good dad. But fatherhood is vital in a child's life. Just ask the therapist who counsels those who struggled without a father. I was recently appalled at the comment of a well-known female activist. She stated that the role of a father was diminished to simply impregnating a female. She said that "a woman, can then, handle the rest."

I know women are quite capable and there are dead-beat dads out there which require a mom to raise kids alone, but that kind of attitude destroys the respect and admonition of fatherhood. This kind of warped mindset hinders our children and our society. The role of fatherhood has not diminished but the respect for the position has.

I am with my 3 kids nearly 24/7, just as my mom was, making sure they are clothed, clean and fed. However, Daryl's role as spiritual leader, protector, and provider is equally vital. I'm not even sure if Daryl realizes that. Maybe this article will affirm it. He went to California for a few days last month for a funeral. But you would've thought the funeral was here. The kids moped around as if he were shipped off to Iraq. They missed their dad, his humor, and especially his cooking. The first meal after he left, my 12 year old asked why I purchased a rubber chicken instead of a real one. She inherited Daryl's sarcasm. I doused the chicken in BBQ sauce to disguise the fact that I overcooked it but my 8 year old still said it was like chewing chicken-flavored gum.

Back to my point.....A dad's role in a child's life is irreplaceable. Thank goodness Christ can and will fill that void if you don't have an earthly father in your life! My mom is living proof of that. But If you are blessed with a good dad, don't let this month go by without expressing your appreciation. Remind him of his importance in your life. Being a good dad doesn't require perfection, but it does require participation.

Thanks DAD and thanks DARYL for rising to the challenge and responsibility of fatherhood.

Happy Father's Day,
Karen

Daryl Williams Trio
http://www.darylwilliamstrio.net

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