On a flight, my 11-year-old daughter Talia got upset after an accident with her jeans. I helped her quietly tie her sweater around her waist so no one would notice. A fellow passenger smiled and mouthed, “Good job, Dad.” That small moment meant a lot.
After we landed for my cousin’s wedding, we laughed shopping for new jeans together. But the next morning, Talia realized her white junior bridesmaid dress was missing. Panic set in. We raced around town, finally finding a beautiful off-white dress at a little boutique. She lit up trying it on.
At the wedding, my cousin toasted me, saying he saw how much I showed up for my daughter—not just physically, but emotionally—and that it was the most beautiful part of the day.
Afterwards, a woman told me I reminded her of her late dad. Talia cuddled up that night and said, “Today was perfect.”
I learned you don’t have to be perfect—you just have to show up for the messy, awkward moments. Those are the ones that matter most.
