Fatherhood - My First Daddy Daughter Dinner

Check out the picture in this post. She's a cutie isn't she? This is my 7 month old daughter Lola. She's growing fast and at times it makes me think about what it will be like when she gets older?Well, as they say, be careful what you wish for. Two days ago I had the pleasure of taking my goddaughter Estrella to a Daddy Daughter Dinner at her church. We were both dressed in our Sunday's best and I was immediately nervous. It was weird because I kept thinking, "What if I embarrass her?"

"What if I'm one of those dorky dads?"

I laughed to myself at this thought and when we got there we stayed in the car for a few moments until more people showed up. I didn't want to be the first one in there. Not sure why but this is how I've always been. So once a few more cars pulled in we headed inside. I met up with a few of the other dads and talked for a bit. Estrella called me into the gym where everything was set up and all I could think of was that sooner or later it would be my 7 month old daughter Lola and I doing this. We sat down and began with a salad. The main course was Lasagna and dessert was a choice between strawberry cheesecake and chocolate musse. I had a little bit of the Lasagna and no dessert but it wasn't because it wasn't good. I couldn't eat it because I'm lactose intolerant. It was good either way, I was there for my goddaughter.

After dinner we were all brought onto the gym floor to learn the Waltz. It was pretty funny because all of us dads were rather tall compared to our daughters. We were separated on either side of the gym so that we could practice our Waltz moves alone and then we tried together with music. I believe Estrella and I tied each other in points for stepping on toes and confusing steps. We laughed it off and we got pretty good. We had a good time but every now and then Estrella would ask if she could step out in the hallway with the other girls to talk. I said it was fine but I was left with the other dads. Now, the other dads were not a problem at all but I began to think a lot about Lola. I thought,

"Man...this is a taste of things to come. I need to enjoy the time I have because when she gets older it's going to be just like this."

It was odd. I mean, Estrella is not my daughter but I've been around her since she was little and I'm like a father to her...I guess that's why I began to feel the way I was. I suppose all father's feel like this when it comes to their kids and especially their daughters but I wasn't expecting it. After the talk with her friends she returned and asked me to dance and I happily obliged. It was a good time overall but it really made me think about my kids. I have always joked with my parents that when I moved out they didn't care and they respond with,

"You have no idea how I felt."

Well...I now know what they meant. Thank you Estrella for inviting me. I had an excellent time. Lola...we are going to have an excellent time too but as you get older and even though you may not think so, you will always be my little girl.