I sat at my table alone — watching. She was 11, bright-eyed and full of imagination. Her confidence was soaring. She was bubbling over with enthusiasm. She spoke with clarity, passion, and intelligence.
Across the table was her father, completely focused on her every word. He responded to her ideas. He probed and prompted more discussion. She paused and pondered after he spoke, then responded with dancing eyes and expressive hands. Without a hesitation in her words, she propped her sneaker-clad foot on his knee. He patted her calf in acknowledgment and continued the conversation.
I was mesmerized. Neither of them, by themselves, would have been remarkable. But together, they were thrilling to watch.
He never once looked at a cell phone. He didn’t check his watch. He didn’t have a newspaper or a magazine. He was there. All there.
In one moment, I saw the answer to all that ails our world. As I eavesdropped on this family moment, I thought:
- What if every daughter had a dad who would take her to a Friday lunch?
- What if every daughter felt comfortable to dream out loud to her dad?
- What if every dad encouraged those dreams?
At home, I looked at my two bright-eyed children. I remember the times I’ve responded to their ideas with a single word:
“Really?”
“Uh huh.”
“I see.”
“Wow.”
“That’s great.”
Do I really listen? Do I really give my children my focused attention? Not enough.
I remembered the anonymous man who is changing the world. Today, I will really talk to my kids.
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The Man Who Changed the World
Across the table was her father, completely focused on her every word. He responded to her ideas. He probed and prompted more discussion. She paused and pondered after he spoke, then responded with dancing eyes and expressive hands. Without a hesitation in her words, she propped her sneaker-clad foot on his knee. He patted her calf in acknowledgment and continued the conversation.
I was mesmerized. Neither of them, by themselves, would have been remarkable. But together, they were thrilling to watch.
He never once looked at a cell phone. He didn’t check his watch. He didn’t have a newspaper or a magazine. He was there. All there.
In one moment, I saw the answer to all that ails our world. As I eavesdropped on this family moment, I thought:
At home, I looked at my two bright-eyed children. I remember the times I’ve responded to their ideas with a single word:
“Really?”
“Uh huh.”
“I see.”
“Wow.”
“That’s great.”
Do I really listen? Do I really give my children my focused attention? Not enough.
I remembered the anonymous man who is changing the world. Today, I will really talk to my kids.
Related posts: