Most divorced dads just get to see their kids the first, third, and fifth weekend; about fourteen percent of the time. Some mothers and fathers must travel frequently for business. Incarceration separates many pops from tots. Still other parents are deployed by the military.
This short poem became my toddler’s favorite; he memorized it before age three. And because of that, we were able to share a connection every night. If you are forced to live apart from your family, share this poem with your child.
Daddy’s Dream
Though I’m not there to turn off the light,
to tuck you in and kiss you goodnight,
to read a book, or get you a drink,
it’s you I love, and of you I think.
If you were here, I’d give you a squeeze,
and ask if you could give me one please.
So to the day we’d say our good-byes,
as we lay down and we close our eyes.
– Don Mathis
“Daddy’s Dream” has appeared on blogs and websites around the world, from Austria to Australia. It first appeared on a radio program by the National Center for Fathering.
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Photo: IStock
