Found an old, unread letter from my Dad, who passed a couple of years back

My Mom found a letter my Dad wrote to me and my siblings about 10 years before he died. It was mostly him telling us all how much he loved us, how the time he spent with us growing up were the greatest times of his life, along with some memories/anecdotes about each of us.

There was also a lot about how much he regretted having to be away nights, weekends or holidays for work, and how he wished he would have had a job that allowed him to be with us more, which is funny, because we all remember him being there for pretty much everything throughout our respective childhoods.

I feel so lucky to have gotten to read this letter. I cried like a little girl during and after, and— hell— I’m getting choked up typing this. But they’re mostly happy, appreciative tears. I love my Dad. He was a fantastic father.

The moral here, though, is to love those kids and spend all the time you can with them. It’s likely what you— and they— are going to remember. Not the toys and material things, but the memories of the time and experiences. It goes by faster than you’re going to want it to; I see with my own child. Make the most of it.