Sweetheart Dance 2011! Wacky Dad Gets Sentimental!
My princesses!
As everyone knows I have 3 daughters. Our haphazard planning of their births has left me with quite a phenomenon. I will be attending 16 Father/Daughter sweetheart dances by the time my girls have left grade school. After tonight I have attended five, so I am not even a third of the way through yet!
As the years have gone by these nights have become more routine and fun for me. As many of you know I am not always a social butterfly. Small talk to me is "Hey! Whats up?" - done. I have gotten a bit better in my older age, but not much. Sitting around and talking to guys I don't know doesn't come easy to me. My answer to this is to try to get out and dance with my girls and really laugh and have fun with them! They even had me dancing to "Poker Face" tonight.
Proud dad and his beautiful Ailey and Abby!
The neat thing about having daughters is that they are very aware of your feelings all of the time. Boys could care less what you're doing, much less care about how you feel. My girls on the other hand are always concerned for their father's well being, and I for them. It is really a touching thing to have your 8 year old daughter worry that you might be sitting alone and might be uncomfortable in a situation, and actually intervene and pull you out on the dance floor to have some fun! This is what they call emotional intelligence from what I hear. It ain't one of my strong suits - or so I am told! I feel like having three daughters is like taking crash courses in the subject though! I have become much more aware of the way they feel, and how to react in certain situations to make them feel better. I'm not perfect but I feel like this old dog has learned a few new tricks!
My First Baby - Abby - You are beautiful my love!
I have attended 5 of these events with Abigail now, and I am a little saddened that next year will be our last year together at a father/daughter dance. Abby and I really share a special bond between father and first daughter. We can hang together all day and just enjoy each others company. When nothing else can calm Abby, my presence can usually soothe her. She is such a delight to be with, and I have enjoyed watching her become the young lady that she is. I may well find my eyes welling up during our spotlight dance next year. She informed me tonight after the dance that we will have to have our own dance every year after grade school ends. My lovely daughter - as long as my legs will carry me and you want to dance with your old man, I will be here! See below for some video highlights of the night!
You are a great Dad, Eric, and your "emotional intelligence" ranks pretty high. That "meathead" part of you is strong, but you're giving it a heck of a fight. As I was reading your post, it occurred to me what a love letter this will be to your daughters when they are grown. There is a special bond between girls and their dad.. and this will be a testament that lives into their adulthood. My dad, who was also an only child, had 3 daughters too. And I cherished each and every opportunity to be with him. As fate would have it, I'm now the mom of 3 boys. And happily for me, the relationship with Mom and boys is much like that of Dads and daughters. Though mine are all adults now, I still treasure every chance I have to be with them.. and as a bonus, they have brought 3 beautiful new "daughters" into my life as well. I admire who you have become as a dad, my friend. ~Cindy
Cindy - I appreciate the kind words. I am not that emotionally intelligent - just love my kids! Your kids are testament to your parenting as well. Pats on the back all the way around!
Hey Busy Mama! Thanks for stopping in! I like to think that dad's build their girls self esteem and help them understand how to kick butt in this world! Of course moms do all the same stuff! It takes both to get the job done! Thanks for reading and come back soon!
Hey Meg! I know they're beautiful! Just like mom! They are both incredibly sensitive to my feelings which always amazes me. They need not worry though. I am usually sitting there in ,y own little world devising some scheme or another! Hey are you guys going to be able to attend Purple Stride RI this May 15th to walk for Pancreatic Cancer? It's at Goddard Park. We are expecting up to 1000 people.
First of all, I would like to appreciate the effort that you have put in making such an informative blog. I enjoyed this post of yours and I must say that everytime I come back to your blog, I always have something new and informative to read. Thanks for keeping me updated. Learn Dance Club
Fireflydance club made a comment here it for some reason it has been deleted unintentionally. It did however show up in my email.
"First of all, I would like to appreciate the effort that you have put in making such an informative blog. I enjoyed this post of yours and I must say that everytime I come back to your blog, I always have something new and informative to read. Thanks for keeping me updated." Learn Dance Club
Thank you so much for the comment! I try to keep things as interesting as I can!
You are a great Dad, Eric, and your "emotional intelligence" ranks pretty high. That "meathead" part of you is strong, but you're giving it a heck of a fight. As I was reading your post, it occurred to me what a love letter this will be to your daughters when they are grown. There is a special bond between girls and their dad.. and this will be a testament that lives into their adulthood. My dad, who was also an only child, had 3 daughters too. And I cherished each and every opportunity to be with him. As fate would have it, I'm now the mom of 3 boys. And happily for me, the relationship with Mom and boys is much like that of Dads and daughters. Though mine are all adults now, I still treasure every chance I have to be with them.. and as a bonus, they have brought 3 beautiful new "daughters" into my life as well.
ReplyDeleteI admire who you have become as a dad, my friend.
~Cindy
You are truly blessed to have and spend time with three wonderful young ladies ... treasure the moments, for they go by so quickly.
ReplyDeleteI personally am proud of you for how you are bonding with them and giving them a strong male role model to navigate their lives in the future.
Sincerely,
John Michael
"Preserving the memories so others will remember..." ™
Precious!!! Look at those angelic faces (your girls, not yours LOL)
ReplyDeleteCindy - I appreciate the kind words. I am not that emotionally intelligent - just love my kids! Your kids are testament to your parenting as well. Pats on the back all the way around!
ReplyDeleteJohn,
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate it. My kids are my legacy and I don't intend to screw it up! They are all special in their own ways and I love 'em all dearly!
Allison,
ReplyDeleteJeez and I thought I liked you! : ) By the way they only look angelic! They are mine and I love them like crazy but angels they aren't!
Being an emtional female, I got teary! LOVE it and what a lucky dad and what lucky girls the Costantinos are. we miss you!!
ReplyDeleteAwww I love this! I was so excited when we got the notices about the dances this year. It something so fun.
ReplyDeleteOne of my most cherished relationships in the world is the one that I have with my father. I adore him!
Your daughters are beautiful and your video is fabulous. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Meg! We all miss you guys too! No crying aloud on the Wacky Dad Blog though!
ReplyDeleteStacie,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind comments! I hope you enjoy your dances as well! Glad you enjoyed the post. Stay tuned for more!
They're adorable! A good father-daughter relationship is so important.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Eric. Your girls are beautiful, I love that Abby was concerned for you sitting alone.
ReplyDeleteHey Busy Mama! Thanks for stopping in! I like to think that dad's build their girls self esteem and help them understand how to kick butt in this world! Of course moms do all the same stuff! It takes both to get the job done! Thanks for reading and come back soon!
ReplyDeleteHey Meg! I know they're beautiful! Just like mom! They are both incredibly sensitive to my feelings which always amazes me. They need not worry though. I am usually sitting there in ,y own little world devising some scheme or another! Hey are you guys going to be able to attend Purple Stride RI this May 15th to walk for Pancreatic Cancer? It's at Goddard Park. We are expecting up to 1000 people.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great post Eric. I can't tell you how proud Mom and I are of the father that you've become.
ReplyDeleteDad
Learned it all from you guys! Thank you Dad!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is only 4 and she already has me dancing all the time.I draw the line at putting on a princess gown.
ReplyDeleteTom that is a good thing brother!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I would like to appreciate the effort that you have put in making such an informative blog. I enjoyed this post of yours and I must say that everytime I come back to your blog, I always have something new and informative to read. Thanks for keeping me updated.
ReplyDeleteLearn Dance Club
Fireflydance club made a comment here it for some reason it has been deleted unintentionally. It did however show up in my email.
ReplyDelete"First of all, I would like to appreciate the effort that you have put in making such an informative blog. I enjoyed this post of yours and I must say that everytime I come back to your blog, I always have something new and informative to read. Thanks for keeping me updated."
Learn Dance Club
Thank you so much for the comment! I try to keep things as interesting as I can!