The Real Super Hero: Dad

Reprinted from June 16,  2012

Look, up in the sky. It’s a bird. It’s a plane. Oh, never mind...it’s just Dad cleaning out the gutters.

He can’t fly. He can’t morph into the Hulk. He can’t spin spider webs from his wrists. Some mornings, he can’t even find the car keys.

But Dad is a super hero, nonetheless, and he does have super powers. Some of which may include. . .

• Leaps from bed in a single bound--to go to a job he hates, to provide for a family he loves
• Walks the floor with a collicky baby
• Fixes a clogged toilet, armed with only a wrench, a plumber’s snake, and duct tape (Sure it might take him three tries, but he gets 'er done--clean-up is optional.)
• Gives his newborn a baseball glove, a soccer ball, a hockey puck, and a hunting rifle--and that's for a girl!
• Tells bedtime stories, complete with character voices and alternate endings
• Adds marshmallows to Cheerios--voila!--instant haut cuisine!

• Gives up his poker night in order to see his son as a singing porcupine in the school production of “Forest Creatures Are Our Friends”

• Comes home from work dog tired but still works on the car (aka "the money pit")

• Takes the kids to church, instead of just sending them

• Stays up all night Christmas Eve putting the dollhouse or bicycle together--with parts to spare!

• Wears a feathered hat while hosting a tea party for three little girls and a stuffed walrus

So maybe he can’t fly, but when you’re little, he can lift you up in his arms and help you fly.

He may not use “church words” when the hammer hits his thumb. But sometimes he knows just what to say to make the monsters disappear from your room at night.

He may not always know the answers to the "stupid questions" on your homework, but someday you’ll be amazed at how smart he really was.

A good dad is someone you never forget. Even when you grow up and become a dad or a mom yourself. Even when he’s no longer around, he will speak to you from beyond the grave:

     “You’re not hurt. Get back on that bike and ride.”

     “Look a bully right in the eye.”

   “Always wash out your brushes when you’re done painting.”

     “Because I said so.”

     “Hey, you’re not gonna leave that mess for your mom to clean up, are you?”

     “Don’t worry, Honey. I can fix it.”

     “I love you, Son.”

The Stark Raving Mythopath salutes the unsung super heroes, dads all around the world. You guys are freakin’ awesome! You are the stuff of legends, Warrior Dads on the battlefield of  family life. Happy Father’s Day!

Photo Credits

    A deploying soldier says goodbye - Author:  Walter Singleton;
        released into the Public Domain by the author;

    Kid with dimples - Author: Nagarjun;

    Dad giving kids breakfast: © Can Stock Photo /monkeybusiness;
    Little boy with dimples - 

        Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nagarjun/5030244188/

         confirmed to be licensed under the terms of the cc-by-2.0;

    Father/son walking in the sand - Author:  Gugatchitchinadze;

    Father and child by the sea - Source: Unsplash;

        The person who associated a work with this deed has dedicated 

         the work to the public domain.