Today is my father’s birthday.

With all of his faults – and he had many – he was my father.

It wasn’t until I could see him without the ‘fantasy father’ filter our society instills that I could forgive him.

Forgive him for hurting me emotionally, and physically,

And yes – those wounds go deep. Parental hurt is the worst kind.

Rising above my own parenting took at least 40 years.

I hope Matt and Ryan will one day forgive me for their parental wounds – and I hope it doesn’t take them 40 years.

Happy Birthday, Dad.