What makes a man a dad??

"M.O.M"

Mind Of Motherhood

My little girl asked me if she can call my partner daddy. It threw me off guard for a second. We have been together for 5 and 1/2 years. So she was just a baby. She don't remember him ever not being there. I paused. I didn't know how to answer her. So I told her she had a daddy. She said I know daddy is my father, but Michael is my daddy. I asked her "why do you want to called him daddy?"

 Her response is one I will never forget. She said "He kinda is my daddy already, he takes care of me, he hugs and kisses me every day, and always hugs me before he goes to work, and   umh   he tells me he loves me just like he does love Jack, he helps me learn stuff like riding my bike ." I said "is that all Molly?" And she said "No, he buys me clothes, and he makes me doll houses and me laugh, and he lets us watch him play the game, and umh sometimes he spanks us when we are bad like mommys and daddy do , but it don't hurt (then she starts laughing), he takes me to the dr when I am sick, he helps me with my homework, he sings with me in his big truck, and he takes me to school in it to." Then she kissed me and went to her room.

I have contemplated this question, “What makes a man a dad?”  all night after that. In pondering this question the whole time I am comparing two men. One from my past and the One who is my future. One man does not seem to care, He does nothing for them, no financial support, and is so unstable. The other is a stable man who stepped up to care for 3 children not biologically his. He gives his all to my kids, all that any child could ever ask for. He shows them pure love and the appropriate discipline when needed. Molly wants to call him “daddy". I am seeing the heart of a dad. He is  not perfect by no means because no parent is. I know I'm not. But he tries to be the best for them. He gives his all. Some will say making the child makes you a dad. I strongly disagree. An egg and a sperm make a baby. But it don't make you a mom or dad. A dad is more than just helping making the child. A dad provides for his children. He will do what it takes to make sure they are taken care of. A dad loves his kids and tells them daily.

So Who is the real dad here?? What makes a daddy, really a daddy?? I am positive it is not the genetics, it is the heart’s desire to be a father. It is the motivation he gives. Its the love that he gives them. It is the effort he puts in his caring for the well being and the good of our kids. That id what makes a man truly a daddy.