My Biggest Cheerleader

So with Father’s Day approaching I thought it was only right to write about my dad.  My dad was only in my life for 20 years, not nearly long enough.  He also left me at the time in my life when I was trying to figure it “all” out so his death really added confusion, loneliness, and deep, deep sadness to an already challenging time of life.

My dad was my biggest cheerleader.  He had a way to make me feel like I could do anything.  So when I lost that support and encouragement at an age when you need it the most I doubted what I could do and looked for that support and encouragement in every man that came into my life–not a great place for a young woman to be.  Instead of looking for that confidence within myself, I was searching for it from someone else because he was the one who always made me feel confident.

I held my dad high on a pedestal.  There was no one greater in my eyes and when someone dies too early in their life you tend to keep them on that pedestal.  As I matured and my relationships matured with my mom and brother, I began to recognize my dad’s faults but they could never outweigh his strengths in my eyes.

One year I nominated my dad for Father of the Year.  I was a sophomore in high school and saw an article in the Oak Creek Pictorial looking for nominations so one day when I was working in the main office as an office aide I scribbled out some words on the back of the daily announcements.  I thought it would be fun to share my sophomore words about my dad (yes, I kept what I wrote on the same backside of the announcements!) And he won!!!  I’ll never forget the day we got the call.  He was over by the neighbors and I went running over to tell him.  I could tell how much it meant to him especially after losing my sister.  I am so glad I was able to give him that moment.

I nominate Frank Higgins for Father of the Year of Oak Creek because he’s always there to give me his love and support.  He encourages me to push myself to my fullest potential.  He gives me strength to keep going even when everything’s going wrong.

The last two years have been the roughest for our family.  First my sister died and then my mom had to go through a difficult operation.  During this time he tried to hold everything inside so he could be strong for us.  Most of the time he did this and he helped me so much to get through it.  There were times though when I could see a tear go down his face or just by something he said how much he hurt inside.  I love him so much for being strong for us even when inside he was torn up.

I’m in sports and he comes to every one of my games.  He never misses one.  He cheers me on, but more important he’s my personal coach.  He helps me if I do something wrong and if I do something right he tells me.

Of course we don’t always get along.  We have our fights because we both don’t have that much patience, but our anger for each other never lasts long.

I think my dad is the greatest.  He does everything he can for us and he shows us that his family is the first thing in his life.

Even if he doesn’t win this award in my heart I’ll know that he’s my Father of the Year and there is no one that can replace him.  I love and respect him and my mom with all my heart.  There’s no two people on the earth like them.  My dad is my strength.  Not only is he a father but he’s also my friend.

Three years later my dad got his cancer diagnosis and once again he showed what a strong man he was and that his family always came first.  I wish I would have been able to spend some of my adult life with my dad but I always felt him by my side still cheering me on and I know even though it was only 20 years his love and support impacted me for a lifetime.  

Love you dad–Happy Father’s Day❤️