My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad!

I want to start off by saying Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. But I want to take a second of your time and tell you about MY dad.

David Charles Murphy 'Chuck'. I don't even know where to being. You are amazing. You are kind. You are loving. You are witty. You are sweet. You are MY DADDY. You became my dad even though you did not have to. You took on a role of a father to someone's child who was not yours; but you made me yours. You have shown me time and time again what a dad/husband is supposed to be. I could not thank you enough.  

Now I know, over the years I have not made the wisest selection of men (or boys if you must) to spend time with, but one thing continues to play, on REPEAT, in the back of my mind: HE'S NO DAVID MURPHY. I watch how you treat mom. I watch how you love her, even when she swears she's right, you just roll with it. Never once have I seen y'all fight. Never once have I had to watch mom cry because of you or hurt because of you. That by far shows me exactly how a marriage should be. It shouldn't be about the fighting, or who is right all the time. It's about loving each other unconditionally and when there are arguments, it's taking it away from the kids. I know y'all don't have a perfect marriage. NO ONE DOES. But the fact that you refuse to let us kids see y'all argue whether it's about money, or who is right, or where the dang girl scout cookies went for crying out loud, means the world to me. I want to have a marriage just like y'all have. I love that you play fight, chase each other around the living room, sit outside with each other and watch your kids play (or run laps hahahaha), I love that you kiss each other in front of us and not fight, complain, or hate each other. I could not ask for a better set of parents. 

I am going to admit, which if you know ANYTHING about me, is hard to do, but I resented my dad. As I got older, I wanted to embrace that I was adopted and find HIM (my sperm donor). I wanted to be the kid with the step dad cause that was what I thought was cool. So I quit using David's last name. I went back to my mom's maiden name. I thought that was what was right and correct. I was born a Hadden and I will always be a Hadden. Which is true. But I have the BEST of both worlds! I was born a Hadden and BECAME a Murphy because of my dad. Because he loved ME. He wanted to marry my mom, but only if he could have me as well. I dont know many men these days that would do that. Many take on the responsibility as 'Step-Dad', but not many take the time to BE A FATHER. And now, I could care less to meet the man who left. He's missing out on one heck of a daughter (yes, I have to brag about myself a little), however, I cannot thank him enough. He gave me the most amazing, loving, kind hearted man in my life.  MY DADDY!

I want to thank you daddy! For all those spankings I was supposed to receive but instead you told me you loved me and gave me grace. Thank you for being there even after I resented you time and time and time again. Thank you for being an amazing dad to Jonathan, MaryGrace, and Kathleen. But most of all, THANK YOU for loving my mom. For showing her what it was like for someone to be there, to love her daughter even when it wasn't required. I love you. I hope you have an amazing father's day. I couldn't ask for anyone better to be my dad. 

(I love you all the way around the world, forever and always)