Step Fathers Day Blog

My sister sent me a picture of my Dad  the other day that I remember taking. He was gently staring at the camera with his hand resting on his cheek. I love that picture. He died when I was twenty and I think about him often. To me he was  a kind philosopher who recognized the artist in me, but to my brothers he was an enthusiastic sportsmen and life coach. He was both, and considering our shared DNA,  I can see both characteristics in each of my siblings.

But there are  fathers with no thread of DNA running between the children they love and raise that I would like to celebrate this Fathers Day too. They are step fathers who sometimes don’t  get the recognition  they deserve on Fathers Day even though their impact can be profound.

My late husband was a step father to my son . He would enthusiastically  share the thrill, honor and responsibility he felt helping to raise Evan. I know it wasn’t an easy path . He offered guidance with restrain so as not to confuse who’s advice needed to followed . I was keenly aware of the  multiple times it took patience and  wisdom  for him to put his head in a book to avoid too much confusion for our son. In the end it was Karl he could count on to pick him up from  from an uncomfortable grade school  overnight or numerous high school misadventures. The pictures from our vacations were so often of Karl calmly helping Evan to catch a fish or to face the unknown without fear. Karl was the person who got on the carnival ride with a reluctant eight year old and also sat next to him as he careened down Interstate 71 while teaching him to drive.  He bought him his first car and helped to install the most insanely large speakers imaginable that we could hear as he drove away to school each day,  even with the windows closed.

Karl loved Evan from the depths of his being as so many big hearted step fathers do. They transform an entire family with their special kind of love . This  Fathers Day I want to  celebrate all of those men who took a chance to give and get love that was a choice not a given. Thank you to all of them.