I’m a father of two daughters, Mia, who is 7, and Zoe, who is 2. Growing up with one sister who was seven years older than me, I always thought I had some idea of what it would be like to raise girls. But the reality has been a delightful surprise. I quickly learned that my daughters have a unique ability to sway me into doing things I would typically shy away from. While I don’t consider myself particularly masculine, I also never imagined I would find myself wearing makeup or playing with dolls—yet here I am, a self-proclaimed expert.
Thanks to my little girls, I have:
- Worn bright blue nail polish to the local pool.
- Mastered the art of removing glittery lipstick and sparkly eye shadow from my own face.
- Engaged in a lengthy debate with my daughter about getting a puppy—a discussion that ended with me buying one despite my initial resistance.
- Learned to communicate in a range of animal and fairy-tale languages. While these skills won’t boost my career, they certainly entertain the kids!
- Caught myself humming along to some surprisingly catchy songs from the “My Little Pony” series.
- Experienced a rollercoaster of emotions watching my daughter hold hands with a boy for the first time—fear and pride all at once!
- Endured the fashion choice of having my beard adorned with hair clips, transforming me into a “glamorous prince.”
- Discovered how quickly I can be swayed by sweet smiles and the phrase, “I love you, Daddy.”
- Rocked a baby doll to sleep and even gave it a gentle kiss.
- Memorized the lyrics to “Let It Go” without even trying—now it plays on repeat in my mind.
- Found myself singing “Let It Go” during my early morning commute, much to my own surprise.
- Shed tears simply because my daughter was upset.
- Dressed a stuffed giraffe in a princess gown and arranged a grand tea party.
- Gained a deeper understanding of the saying, “All women are someone’s daughter.”
- Kept my composure when faced with a dramatic meltdown over the shape of her toast—who knew triangles were so controversial?
- Been told by my daughter that I “just don’t understand,” a realization that hit home for me.
- Used princess stories as teaching moments, discussing everything from kindness to the importance of washing hands—“Cinderella always washes her hands after using the restroom!”
- Understood the significance of telling girls they are strong, creative, and capable, alongside reminding them of their beauty.
- Strolled through the grocery store with my daughters, both dressed as princesses, while pretending to be their British butler discussing our shopping list.
- Looked at my daughters and wished for a future where they can achieve anything without facing barriers, recognizing the ongoing struggle for gender equality.
This list barely scratches the surface of the transformative journey parenthood has taken me on. Raising daughters has profoundly changed me, and I’m eager to see what other surprises await.
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In summary, my journey as a father of daughters has been both unexpected and enriching, revealing the profound impact children have on their parents.