My daughter got involved with a young man a few years back.
Like, really invested. Falling for him.
This one felt different. There was a zest to how she talked about him.
So I had to meet him, alone.
I desperately wanted to break the pattern… the performance a father usually puts on with his daughter’s suitors. The intimidation routine. The chest-puffing.
What was possible if I just… trusted my daughter? Trusted my parenting? Trusted him?
We met for the first time on March 10th, 2022.
I could see immediately why she was falling for this young man.
He was nervous, but he showed up. He looked me in the eye and told me why he loved my daughter. That alone said everything.
I told him straight:
“I’m not here to scare you or intimidate you. I want to get to know you and have a direct line of communication, man to man.”
He was honest. Vulnerable. He asked real questions and actually listened to the answers.
A kid who actually showed up for the hard conversation. Still figuring it out, and knew it.
A good person. I could see it clearly.
So here we are, 4 years later.
Having a damn good burger at Sky Rocket in Deep Ellum.
They’re husband and wife now. All official and sh!t. I was at the wedding. I’m still waiting on the cow.
They’re parents to an adorable miniature version of me (kinda kidding), minus the gray hair. That would be weird.
They made me an abuelo. A title and role I didn’t know I was ready for.
Four years of consistent hangouts. Lots of ups. A few downs. Our conversations have evolved right along with him.
But that curious mind and big heart? Still there.
What I appreciate most is that he’s kept an open mind and a real willingness to grow.
And grow he has.
The conviction in his voice when he talks about his family, his vision for them, it’s clear. He’s becoming a man-man.
I wish I was that sharp at his age.
I wish I’d had an elderly person willing to sit across from me and talk straight. He doesn’t even realize how far ahead of schedule he already is.
I’m genuinely excited to watch the full transformation as his prefrontal cortex finishes coming online. 😂
He’s stuck with me now and I’m stuck with him.
Fo’ life.
—
I wrote about our first bro-date back in 2022 and it went kinda viral.
Check the receipts 👇
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Gt7u8groZ/
