Know your role...

This past Sunday ( Father's Day) was really laid back for me.  Since I live over 1,000 miles away from my Pops, I didn't get to see him, but we did have a good phone conversation. Alex was out of the country on business, and Charleigh was with her Grandparents, so I had the house to myself. Meaning, Boosie and Nipsey were being played at bachelor pad levels. Draws were not worn at all. The meals that I ate were not the healthiest. Plenty of naps were taken...just a high quality day.

On Father's Day, I've never been one to call or text every man that I know that has kids. I feel as though that is their kids responsibilities. I'll call my Pops, and you call yours. Uncles, Cousins, Homies, Coaches, etc. don't hear from me. This year, I did text my big brother Jus, since he gave me my only niece, and my brother Joe since he became a first time Dad last month. When I told them Happy Father's Day, they both said it back. This kind of threw me off, I guess I wasn't expecting it, but I said thank you. I received a couple other texts throughout the day, I was thankful for all of them. Especially when Alex finally had wifi and could iMessage me. Her message meant the most to me. It really made me think.

Monday, I cleaned up the house, put my draws on and went to go pick Al up from the airport. After I got her, we went to go pick Charleigh up from summer camp. When we got her, she gave me a huge hug and whispered, "I got you a present for Father's Day." She was so excited. I was too.

When we got back home, she ran to her room and brought out a gift bag. In the bag was a beautiful handmade card, a handmade arrowhead necklace that represents Kansas City and .81 cents. It was so sweet. I felt tears in my eyes, but they didn't come out. This happens a lot when something touches me. (When Mufasa died, When Ali lit the torch in Atlanta, When Babyface sings at Martin & Gina's wedding, When Cleo's car got shot up, When Allen Iverson retired, When Will wanted to know how come his Dad didn't want him man) I gave Charleigh a huge bear hug and kiss on the cheek and told her how much I loved her. She was so happy and proud. I put the card on my dresser, the .81 cents back in her piggy bank and haven't taken the necklace off yet.

I guess because she isn't my own seed, and since Al & I aren't married YET, I thought that Father's Day didn't apply to me. I still don't look at myself as a Father yet, but I do think that I play an important role in Chaleigh's life. That's my girl. I often joke with Alex that if she dumps me, I'm fighting for custody of Charleigh. I love her. I love the role that I play in her life and the relationship that we are forming. I pray that it continues to grow, I learn so much from her every day. I feel honored that she even thought of me on Father's Day.

Last week I was looking at humansofny 's Instagram. I saw a picture of a middle-aged man with a young boy. The caption stated, "I'm not his father. I'm his friend" He was asked how they had met, his response, "I love his Mother, and it was a package deal." I feel the exact same way about Alex and Charleigh, and it was one hell of a deal.