Crazy Strange Glorious

[tpc1977]

SD17 was going with her boyfriend to an NA meeting. They went over to OMs house to meet my W and actually go with her. "It was cool looking," I heard later from SD17. He does have the money and has the taste from what I gather.

One thing God has laid on my heart with my SD was to show her a love like the prodigal son's father. Every time she comes home love her like she was gone for a long time. Not all mushy and needy, but a genuine love that she needs to feel when she comes home.

In the past I would question here whereabouts and be standoffish. I designed a nice wall between me and her that I have to slowly, and with God's help, tear down.

Yesterday before she left to go to the OMs place to meet her mom, I walked over to her and put my arms around her and held her for a bit. I kissed her on the head and told her I loved her and to have a good time. I also told her I would have plates of food ready for each of them when they get back.

What I noticed immediately was that she actually took her arms down from in between us and put them around me. She hardly does that. Actually, she doesn't want to hug too long. Her excuse is that she's not a touchy-feely person and I should respect that. I do. As the same as she should respect a dad needs hugs every so often. So, I'm trying to give more.

Later after they came home and told me how awesome the OMs place was, I watched them both gobble down the food. That was pretty heart warming too. Then it was waiting for my youngest (D13). She went to the movies with friends and at the last minute told me I had to come get her.

Now! In the past I would have jumped through the ceiling. I always wanted a warning ahead of time. I needed to know these things up front. Why? Well ... I just do.

My W hated that about me. I couldn't hit curve balls and it infuriated me. She on the other hand dealt with these types of things delicately and hardly complained.

Through text me and D13 back-and-forthed until I finally got it out of her. I did ask who she went with because I thought it was the neighbor's but it wasn't. Then I was told by SD17 that it was at a mall out of town. So I asked, and fortunately it wasn't.

But I kept thinking, "What would the old guy do?" He would complain and gripe and get on to them. So I wanted to relax and just go no matter where I needed to get her.

I still need a lot of work in this area however. I can tell my initial responses want to be complaints and gripes. Slowly I'm killing that man away.