Guest Post from the Daddy-Do of our Hearts : Fathers & Daughters

The other day, someone pointed out that my toes nails were pretty and matched my finger nails.  I blushed and said thank you, I become shy with compliments.  It occurred to me the exclusive club I belong to, one in which fraternity style hazing still runs rampant, and little regard is held for personal dignity or pride.  It's lawlessness, really.  Membership dues are paid in rainbow-painted nails and random chunks of braided hair.  Such is the cost, and like so many initiation rituals the meaning isn't necessarily found in the effect but rather in the act itself.  Grown men walking around respectable places of business with glitter on their collars, sky-blue finger nails shimmering, carefully crafted sections of hair braids...we understand.  We understand that if you are a father and you don't occasionally walk into work stinking of nail polish remover or donning pink stars on your toe nails, then you might not be a member yet.  If you don't understand how important, how critical it is to little girls when dads step into their planet, then you should look at your calendar and plan on attending the next meeting.   

Recently I celebrated my 5^th year as a member.  I think the festivities included chasing my daughters around the yard as if I were some deranged four-legged creature. Which might be my next entry: “Creative ways to stay in shape with your children”.  The next day, I limped around sore and tired from freeze-tag bear-crawl style, but I sat in my office cube smiling to myself, proud of the new patch I get to wear.