Valentines Day and my Daughter

  Valentine's Day used to be my favorite holiday of the year. When my daughter turned 5 we started going to daddy,daughter dances in Safety Harbor. I would buy her a new dress,send her flowers and take her to dinner. We would dance,even at 5 she was better than me. The DJ who hosted the event would plan all these fun games to make fools of us dads. There was Elvis impersonator contests,hula hoop contests and dance contests. The daughters Loved how silly we looked.
  Every year we went to this dance,she even looked forward to it.I LOVED it and would start checking their website in January. The last song was always Butterfly kisses and to see all the dads dancing with their daughters listening to the words of that songs would bring tears to my eyes. We would go for ice cream after. The perfect date!
  Then she turned 13. Need I say more. Forget the dance,I understand that.Heck, she won't be seen with me at the mall. You should see the humiliated look on her face if I try to crack a joke in front of her friends. My little angel, who couldn't go anywhere with out holding my hand and sitting in my lap,now won't smile at me. I don't know if any of you dad's have gone through this, but this is rough stuff. I keep trying, Brookee want to go for sushi? " Can Jenna come?" (her best friend) is her usual response. I say," no, I thought just you and I would spend some time together." Nah, she say's. I am not hungry.
  Well, It's almost Valentines Day 2012. For the last month i have been working her for a date. With much begging and bribing we are going to dinner and a hockey game Tuesday Night!!. At least we are for now. I am so looking forward to spending some one on one time with her. I am going to hide her phone before we go and tell her we have to leave and try to take away all distractions. I will let you know how it goes. I would say, I will take some pictures, however, I am certain that won't happen.
   All you dads with little girls, get them out Tuesday night. Hug them and squeeze them and tell them how much you love them. Those memories I have of our Valentines days together are memories I will never forget