Heartfelt note validates father’s efforts

Harry Chapin’s Cats in the Cradle sparks conversation

For as long as I can remember, the Hamilton Spectator has been a part of my life, and a part of my parents’ lives as well. However, I must admit that in my 50-plus years, I have never taken the time to make a submission. Perhaps I just have never had something I felt was so incredible to share.

I have always done my best to be there for my son; to guide him to the best of my abilities. But as a parent, I often wondered how much he took to heart. I know many parents breathe a sigh of relief each year with the first day of school, however, I was never one of those parents. The thought that while I struggled at work, his teachers would spend each day watching him grow into the man he would become, caused great anguish.

Nonetheless, I always believed him to be an incredible individual, and now, at the age of 23, I am certain he is. I only hope and pray these same parents someday share in the incredible joy and pride I experienced when I received the email below from my son.

On Sept. 5, I sent my son the following email:

I finally came across a link to Harry Chapin’s song “Cats in the Cradle” I believe does this song justice and I wanted to share it with you.

https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=etundhQa724

As you know, this song has always summed up my regrets with regards to my relationship with my father. I am very proud of you and I love you very, very much. Dad The email I received in return left me in tears: Hey Dad, I really enjoyed that link. It is a very good song that I have always found very relevant and describes how our relationship has been shaped.

This song has always helped define my outlook in life as well and come up with how I would like my life to go in the future.

I know your dad worked all the time and did not always have enough time to give you the relationship you would have liked with him. In turn you ensured that you would not have the same regrets with me.

You have always done everything you could to be there for me and I am so grateful to have such an amazing father and knowing that no matter what you will always be there for me when I need you.

I see so many other kids who don’t have that kind of relationship with their fathers and it makes me so thankful to have lucked out with you.

I truly do not know what I would do without you as my dad.

I hope that one day my kids feel the same way. I have also seen some of the struggles you have had to always adhere to your moral compass and to do your best to ensure nothing ever got in the way of our relationship.

You have incredibly helped to shape my own values and helped guide my life growing up. I hope that I can be half as good of a father that you are to my kids when I have them one day.

I think it is also part of why I try so hard right now and am always thinking about ideas for the future. I want to work hard and to struggle as much as I need to now, so that I can always be there for my kids one day.

So that they know that I will always be available for them just like you are always here for me.

I love you very much dad. I always appreciate everything you do for me and all the time we spend together. Even if I let myself get too busy and let other things get in the way, or do not show my appreciation.

Sometimes I feel myself turning in to the kid in that song and I am constantly trying to make sure I do not turn out that way.

I love you very much dad.

I love you very much dad. I always appreciate everything you do for me and all the time we spend together.