A birth father shares blood ties to his child, DNA connection, and genetics. A birth father was the creator of life for the child, which I myself am grateful of.

I was no different than any other little girl growing up; I was daddy’s little girl. I have never as a child or now as an adult even thought of my dad as anything but my daddy surely not as adoptive or adopter. I can honestly say for this adoptee the lack of DNA or genetic connection to my dad has no bearing on my thoughts, love, feelings, etc.

My over 70 year-old dad still is very involved in my daily life and my children’s lives. He taught me all about life, the good and bad. We have had our share of disappointments and struggles along the road but what parent and child has not.

My unexpected understanding and compassion from my dad came when I know I truly had disappointed him. I was unmarried with a surprise (unplanned)pregnancy. Finding the courage to tell my dad was the hardest thing I have ever done. Sitting in the parking lot of an Eckerd’s, I saw the disappointment wash over my dad’s face. He was quiet for a couple of minutes. He asked me one question, “Do you want to raise the baby?” Then low and behold there was my dad, telling me that things would be okay and that we would work things out.

Then he drove us around looking for apartment's close to my parent’s house telling me that he would watch my baby while I worked. My mom thought I got myself in this situation that I should get myself out of it, and she had raised her family. This was not quite what I expected from my dad. He was my rock, my support, my daddy.

As a grandfather, he loved my daughter from the moment she was born. She was born three months premature weighing a whopping 2 pounds. I saw the concern and pain of a grandfather watching his granddaughter struggle and fight for life. He cried tears of a daddy and grandfather that day seeing his child and grandchild in so much pain. He would come to the Neonatal Intensive Care to see her and put his finger inside her isolation, she would hold his finger while the tears ran down his face.

This is the amazing love of a daddy that the lack of DNA connection does not matter. This father’s day, I celebrate my daddy that person that taught me to ride a horse, to stand up for myself, to speak my mind, to love life, to take chances, follow my dreams, to be a parent, and taught me that I am capable of doing anything.

More reading:

Love Thursday – Love Through Adoption

Love Thursday – My Lighthouse In The Storm of Life

Love Thursday - Happy Birthday Daddy!

Love Thursday: Dad's Dad