In Other Words with Dave 

Father’s Day, 16 years ago. I opened a gift bag to find a sheet of paper covered in my five-year-old granddaughter Aubrey’s hand-drawn artwork. It was a Father’s Day card accompanied by a questionnaire her teacher helped her complete. Aubrey’s answers painted a portrait that was both wildly inaccurate and surprisingly heartfelt.

According to five-year-old Aubrey, I weighed a mere 70 pounds and stood a towering eight feet tall. I’ve never been a beanpole or a basketball player, but hey, I appreciate the description.

She got a few details right: My name is Dave, I do love to read, and my eyes are blue. But “washing dishes” as my favorite chore? Let’s just say that’s a creative interpretation of reality.

Then there was “Outlaw Pete” as my favorite song. I had played it a lot back then, so maybe Bruce Springsteen owes me for some early fan development. And “The Pink Panther” as my favorite TV show? Sure, I definitely remember introducing her to various comedy classics.

What stuck with me most wasn’t the facts she got wrong, but the ones she got perfectly right. I do say “I love you” often, and snuggling in the morning was one of our favorite rituals. The way she captured the heart of who I am — and who I strive to be for her — really hit home.

Raising Aubrey as my daughter has been the most unexpected and rewarding journey of my life. I stepped in, not just as her grandfather but as her dad. Although it wasn’t always easy, every challenge was outweighed by the joy of watching her grow.

Aubrey is 21 now and a junior at UCO, but that little girl’s love letter hangs in my office. It reminds me that the best part of fatherhood isn’t being “eight feet tall” or being “button shirts” stylish (apparently the answer for what I like to wear). It’s the hugs, the snuggles, and the simple joys we share.

The real gift was seeing myself through her eyes.