Awesome Dad

Today I was reminded what an amazing dad Jared was. One of the moms at school was telling me how she remembered when our kids were little that they took swimming lessons at the same facility. And she remembers Jared always being there sitting, watching, and waiting during Steven’s swim lesson. Even on his sickest days, he always put being a dad first. Steven wrote an essay for school about the person he admired most and he said he admired his dad. He wrote “my dad had cystic fibrosis but I didn't know what that meant. I just thought he had a bad cough. He never let his disease stop him from being my dad. He coached my football team and my baseball team. And even when he was sick he made time to play catch with me.”

I am so very grateful that  my little boy has such wonderful memories of his dad. And that even though Jared was not perfect (none of us are), he loved Steven more than anything on this Earth.  Even when he was dying, he's still made it a point to go to Steven’s football practices and stand on the field and help coach. He came home from the hospital Thursday to hospice care. He was so very sick. That Saturday he was at Steven's football game sitting on the bench with the players. We had no idea that three days later he would go home to heaven. When he was diagnosed with a blood clot in his brain, which made it difficult for him to regulate his body temperature so he was told to avoid extreme temperatures. But there he was on the coldest nights and on the hottest days coaching Steven's baseball team.

He always encouraged Steven to do his best and be the best he could be. From the most simple things to the big ones.  When Steven was 3 years old, Jared told Steven if he learn to ride without training wheels he would buy him a motorcycle for his fifth birthday.  So of course a week later Steven no longer needed training wheels and on his 5th birthday his daddy bought him a pocket rocket. I will never forget the look on Jared's face as Steven rode that motorcycle up and down our sidewalk. And Jared is the one who helped Steven everyday after school with his homework. Made sure that he developed a love for math and science.  Encouraged him to always do his best in school. Told him with it that with a good education they could do anything. And he put being a dad first. Being Steven's dad was Jared's greatest joy.

I love when people share their Jared stories with me.  This friend sharing her memory today helped me remember so many Jared and Steven stories.  Stories I need to write down and share with Steven.  He was blessed to have 10 wonderful years with a dad who always put his child first.