Just remembered when I had my last very public cry.

I had to write something about my daughter at her sorority's presentation, and then it was read as she and I walked down this long aisle. Since the OP mentioned himself crying at the birth of his child, I thought he may appreciate this.

I held it together pretty well - not all the way mind you - while walking down that aisle while the chick on the mic was reading it, but I had a private moment in that country club bathroom when I'd finished.

Here's what I wrote

Dear ________:

As your mother and I sit in the audience before you, we are once again witnessing another stage in your transition from that precious and only child given to us a little over 18 years ago, to the young woman that you’ve become. As you know, your mother worked tirelessly to see that you arrived on this Earth healthy, and to date, it’s been the best and most rewarding of any effort that she’s ever made. ________, you are God’s perfect answer to what was apparently a perfect prayer.

We were told that parenting was difficult, but honestly, that’s never been the case with you. You’ve always made good decisions, always stayed focused on the task in front of you, always done what was right, and have literally never disappointed us in any way. Never. Although both of us have been blessed in other areas of our lives, when we count those blessings, there’s you, then everything else. Not one good thing that has ever happened to either of us that comes close to comparing to you, and you are a daily reminder that at least once, we did something completely right.

__________, it is our hope that you continue to pursue your college and sorority life in the same manner that you’ve pursued everything else – by listening to God’s whispers, practicing wisdom beyond your years, making your own informed decisions, and remaining loyal, true, and loving to God, yourself, and those that love and emotionally invest in you.

We are so proud of you and love you very much! ______ will be as blessed in sisterhood as we are in parenthood.

Mom and Dad

Not sure why it made me cry so much. She's been a dream child, and watching her enter a sorority would have been her "natural progression", per me I guess. Secretly, most dads in the south would want their daughters to be smart, pretty, cheerleaders/sorority girls. She's all that/been all that. It's just sad watching "your little girl" grow up.

Downvote away/don't care. It made me cry then, and made me tear up reading it again now. Again, I can't explain why.