My Special Date

Ever since I heard about the Date with Dad program (I think about 5 years ago), I've wanted to bring Shannon. But she was too young then - it is targetted at teenage daughters, young teenage daughters which still allow their father to dictate their weekend plans.

We had to write notes to each other

Even as recent as a decade ago, if you told someone that you were going to take your daughter on a date, they would look at you in a weird way and think that you were either mad or inappropriately wired. A father and his daughter had to maintain a proper distant relationship which was suitably devoid of emotion and affection.

Suddenly a dad said, "Last year my daughter went on her first date." The room went silent. He carried on, "It was with me." All the fathers in the room breathed a sigh of relief, some laughed, some clapped. Everyone understood why it was important.

Our daughters will one day go on dates with, and it's difficult to say it, boyfriends. There is no denying, no stopping that  - it is the way of life and we do want it to happen, although most of us would rather not have it happen too soon. Our little girls, going off into the wild wild world.

But we want to prepare her, show her how a true gentleman behaves, and that chivalry, respect and basic courtesy are not things that are good to have, but a demand of any guy she decides to even spend ten minutes with. I told her that she was my princess from the day she was born, and would continue to be even after I give her away in marriage, one day.

As a husband, you are constantly modeling this with your interactions with your wife, with her, with her sister and all those you meet each day, even with the cleaning lady which comes by to wipe your table.

Take your daughter on a date, on many dates - pay attention to her, and to yourself, show her that her mother fell for you because you are a true gentleman and that she deserves nothing less.