Super Dad

Few things in life change you quite as dramatically as having children. Boys still are the favored gender for men, even though we love our daughters. Like I love mom, sisters, aunts, cousins, friends...
If a child doesn't transform your life, you're not much of a father. You can have kids, and not be much of a father. Those types abound.
Recently, a girl friend came up to me and said what great shape I'm in. "That's what spending time at the gym does to you" I cockily, teasingly fire back.
Fire with eyes, stance, unimposing, unapologetic self. And so I went to Esteban's graduation, and saw him sing, clap and swirl with his arms and sit attentively. There, he had been challenged and he sure loved those people. A young assistant who Esteban apparently called his name out. I hadn't seen him. He had other people in his life who cared for him, and he found himself quite at ease, like a safe haven, a genuine home.
I had been so consumed with work and everything that I had slightly neglected our time together. I was grieving when others were inspiring him. And I stood by the sidelines, with a cynic outlook and quite depressed.
I was no longer his hero. The super dad that taught him syllables and vowels and bought him educational videos designed for children in the spectrum. The one who taught him how to read and call out numbers up to twenty in both Spanish and English.
Well, I've spent quite a lot of time lately with him. Quality time, that is. And I plan to do so more often and far more elaborate. I will challenge him with all sorts of toys (nothing too expensive), crayons, blackboards, books, and lots and lots of videos, music (he loves it) and songs. I will take him out and take tons of pictures.