About six years ago, when Kaelan and Daddy attended there first dance together, these type of events were pretty rare. Nowadays, Daddy and Daughter Dances are catching on, and pretty much anywhere you go you can find one.
As it turns out, that is a good thing. When we moved, I worried we might have hit a snag in a beloved yearly tradition. After talking to a few folks and doing some research though, I was able to find several such dances in the area, and I was even able to pick and choose which one would fit our busy schedules.
I love that this date night still excites Kaelan. Dad is thrilled she still likes being seen with him.
I have to share something with you.
Recently, I was having a discussion with some other moms about dads spending alone time with their daughters, and the topic of daddy/daughter dances came up. One gal expressed her deep concern that these type of events were creepy and kind of “disgusting” and “perverse” in her opinion.
Now, I can normally sit and calmly take in others views and opinions with respect and an open mind (I mean seriously, you should see how I handle family gatherings! Geesh!) but that remark really irked me.
I had to speak up and state that I saw absolutely nothing creepy about my daughter spending time with a guy who loves her and holds the key to her heart, showing her how a real man and hopefully her future partner SHOULD treat her. Absolutely nothing perverse there.
Doug and Kaelan have a remarkable relationship. She adores him, and I can’t think of a better guy for her to use as a model for a future husband.
A while back, Doug actually gave Kaelan a beautiful antique looking key that she could keep in her jewelry box or wear as a necklace. He explained to her that this was the key to her heart, and that he wanted her to guard it and keep it protected until the right person came into her life and she felt like that person was the one that would care for her heart with the same love and caution it deserved.
I remember Doug telling me that she handed that key right back to him and asked that he keep it for her. Right now in her life, he holds the key to her heart.
Someday, when she finds that special someone, she has given dad permission to hand off the key.
They have it all planned out, those two.
The key gets handed over on her wedding day.
So, yeah. I laid down the smackath that day with that gal.
I later found out she had a reputation for saying things that rather crossed the line of acceptable chit/chat among moms.
Plus, it is hard to take advice on how to prepare your child for the world of dating and relationships from a woman who is on her fourth marriage in 11 years.
I am pretty sure she lost her key somewhere between husband number 2 and 3.
Oh, snap! I didn’t just go there.
Yep. I did.
P.S. If you have a girl, a great book that Doug recommends for fathers of young girls is called “Raising a Modern Day Princess”.
She may be a princess, but I do plan on reminding her that princesses still have to make their beds and clean their rooms.
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