This is so good, Latham. You got me emotional. As a father of an almost-twenty-year-old who's going to turn twenty in a few days, I can strongly relate. A sounds exactly like my E was at her age, and this brought back so many memories (I never had a chainsaw though). And that photo of her is just precious. I wish I could write about my kids with the same passion, thoughtfulness, and irony. Maybe I'll try though, after reading your beautiful piece. Thanks for sharing this.
Latham, this made me tear up. Genuine, real, almost-tears. Your daughter is blessed to have such a loving and thoughtful father as yourself. This essay will mean the entire world to her one day. Beautiful piece! (And happy birthday to her! ☺️)
My sweet baby girl, you are our sparkle. You have a fire that is unmatched, one I could only dream of having. You remind us to lean into the laughter, the tenderness, the stillness, the love. I will never forget when they laid you on my chest, you didn't want to cry. You just curled up on me seeming so content and wanting to be left alone. But the nurses kept poking and rubbing you to get the cry. And when they finally got it, boy did they get it... and so did I. I love you to the moon and back. Happy Birthday
Hi Latham , what a beautiful essay. I keep reading it over and over again.
To my adorable little A, wishing you a very, very happy 5th birthday. I’m so sad I’m not there to celebrate this special day with you, but I want you to know that a minute doesn’t pass by when I don’t think of you. Thank you for taking care of me on all my visits especially during the time I broke my wrist. You have a heart of gold and the love you share is as big as your smile. I miss you very much and can’t wait to spend time with you over the summer. Have a fantastic day!
Happy Birthday to your daughter Latham! This was such a beautiful piece. I was grinning at some points and getting tearied eyed in others. I know it's not a good time to laugh, but the image of your daughter with a chainsaw made me giggle. Your kids are so lucky to have you and that you are capturing so many parts of their life and your thoughts in writing!
I’m just in tears. This is so bittersweet to read. My husband called our daughter his “little love” and I can almost read this in his voice. I’m so thankful that your daughter has you as her dad. Man I wish Brian could be here for ethne.
This also made me think of my dad who is thankfully still with me as I near 40. I can promise you, my “hey dad’s” are just as frequent and necessary as they were when I was a little girl. My dad wrote a beautiful poem about me which left me with the same sentiment as this piece.
Happiest of birthdays to little A. This was just the most beautiful thing. ❤️
Hi A! I'm a friend of your dad's he loves you so much that it spills out far away from your home and I can feel it way over here where I am in another part of the country. I have a daughter too. She's 26 years old, and we love each other a lot. She calls me and says "Hey Dad" when she needs help with something and it always makes me so happy to be asked. She is also very wise, like you, and I learn a lot from her. Happy Birthday to you!
This is such a beautiful piece, Latham! You got me tearing up. Your daughter is blessed to have you as a father, just as you are to have her as a daughter.
Jun 3, 2023·edited Jun 3, 2023Liked by Latham Turner
Latham... every word in this essay, every word in every comment, it's like every dad in the world who's ever known love from a daughter, was speaking in some cosmic voice of surrender to that strange and inexplicable love. I can almost hear little A saying "hey Dad!" and why the dada becoming Dad or the hi morphing into a hey would've felt like the unlikeliest suckerpunch when it came together as "hey Dad!"
Happiest belated birthday to dear A. <3 To a lifetime of play, love, thoughtfulness, sparkles and well-dressed unicorns.
Gah! You got me with the ending! This was such a fun combination of parental love with a touch of sarcasm and a realness that shows the many sides of parenting.
I am a puddle of goo, sitting beside you, Latham!
Hey A!
Happy Birthday.
What a wonderful present on this special day.
You look like liquid surprise and joy
You look like you are filled with questions
And that you accept the world as it is.
Now I'll let you into a little secret, little one
Hug your Daddy tight. Right now, you are just right.
One day, you will grow too big to fit on his lap,
And you will have to stand and hug him.
Then you will grow taller and taller, (or he may shrink shorter and shorter?)
And he will have to stand on the stairs just so your hugs can reach him.
Right now, you fit just right together like glue.
And remember to beg him for more bedtime stories
Daddy stories are where dreams come from! The best dreams.
Happy fifth birthday, A
Happy Birth Day, Latham.
Happiest of birthdays to a very lucky girl!
Love this Latham. Wishing A the happiest of birthdays!
This is so good, Latham. You got me emotional. As a father of an almost-twenty-year-old who's going to turn twenty in a few days, I can strongly relate. A sounds exactly like my E was at her age, and this brought back so many memories (I never had a chainsaw though). And that photo of her is just precious. I wish I could write about my kids with the same passion, thoughtfulness, and irony. Maybe I'll try though, after reading your beautiful piece. Thanks for sharing this.
Happy Birthday, A!
You're a lucky little girl to have a dad that loves you so much. And he's equally as lucky to have a special little girl like you.
Enjoy your special day!
Hi Latham, this was even better than the previous version, which was heart melting already. Congratulations and happy birthday to your daughter.
Latham, this made me tear up. Genuine, real, almost-tears. Your daughter is blessed to have such a loving and thoughtful father as yourself. This essay will mean the entire world to her one day. Beautiful piece! (And happy birthday to her! ☺️)
My sweet baby girl, you are our sparkle. You have a fire that is unmatched, one I could only dream of having. You remind us to lean into the laughter, the tenderness, the stillness, the love. I will never forget when they laid you on my chest, you didn't want to cry. You just curled up on me seeming so content and wanting to be left alone. But the nurses kept poking and rubbing you to get the cry. And when they finally got it, boy did they get it... and so did I. I love you to the moon and back. Happy Birthday
Hi Latham , what a beautiful essay. I keep reading it over and over again.
To my adorable little A, wishing you a very, very happy 5th birthday. I’m so sad I’m not there to celebrate this special day with you, but I want you to know that a minute doesn’t pass by when I don’t think of you. Thank you for taking care of me on all my visits especially during the time I broke my wrist. You have a heart of gold and the love you share is as big as your smile. I miss you very much and can’t wait to spend time with you over the summer. Have a fantastic day!
love you and God bless you - Nana
Happy Birthday to your daughter Latham! This was such a beautiful piece. I was grinning at some points and getting tearied eyed in others. I know it's not a good time to laugh, but the image of your daughter with a chainsaw made me giggle. Your kids are so lucky to have you and that you are capturing so many parts of their life and your thoughts in writing!
Latham,
I’m just in tears. This is so bittersweet to read. My husband called our daughter his “little love” and I can almost read this in his voice. I’m so thankful that your daughter has you as her dad. Man I wish Brian could be here for ethne.
This also made me think of my dad who is thankfully still with me as I near 40. I can promise you, my “hey dad’s” are just as frequent and necessary as they were when I was a little girl. My dad wrote a beautiful poem about me which left me with the same sentiment as this piece.
Happiest of birthdays to little A. This was just the most beautiful thing. ❤️
Hi A! I'm a friend of your dad's he loves you so much that it spills out far away from your home and I can feel it way over here where I am in another part of the country. I have a daughter too. She's 26 years old, and we love each other a lot. She calls me and says "Hey Dad" when she needs help with something and it always makes me so happy to be asked. She is also very wise, like you, and I learn a lot from her. Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday, A!
This is such a beautiful piece, Latham! You got me tearing up. Your daughter is blessed to have you as a father, just as you are to have her as a daughter.
Latham... every word in this essay, every word in every comment, it's like every dad in the world who's ever known love from a daughter, was speaking in some cosmic voice of surrender to that strange and inexplicable love. I can almost hear little A saying "hey Dad!" and why the dada becoming Dad or the hi morphing into a hey would've felt like the unlikeliest suckerpunch when it came together as "hey Dad!"
Happiest belated birthday to dear A. <3 To a lifetime of play, love, thoughtfulness, sparkles and well-dressed unicorns.
Gah! You got me with the ending! This was such a fun combination of parental love with a touch of sarcasm and a realness that shows the many sides of parenting.