A superhero can be defined as a fictional character that has superhuman powers. Limitless abilities which include super speed, telepathy, unlimited stamina, fearlessness, and most importantly the ability to save the day.
My life changed when my son was born for many reasons. But the most important reason was that I had a life I was responsible for in addition to my own.
My schedule changed, my focus altered, additional goals were added and everything I did, I had to consider my son.
I knew I had to mature, but I didn’t know I had to acquire superhuman abilities in order to be a Father.
Really, I didn’t even know I had them until one day I was struggling with a variety of things while somewhat frustrated, down and out.
Out of nowhere, my son came running from his room and said, “Pop Pop, you’re my hero“.
I straightened up and I knew I could no longer have any excuses and whatever he needed me to be, I would need to find a way to be just that.
I accepted my cape!
The idea of “With great powers comes great responsibility” was switched to “With great responsibility comes great powers”. Here’s what comes with the cape of being a Father.
Super Speed
My reaction time has shortened dramatically.
If it were quick decision-making on an activity or whether something was safe or not for him to do. If he was on the verge of falling, I would need to be able to jump and catch him.
If he wasn’t paying attention to what he was doing and something was about to harm him or make a mess, I needed to be there to grab it or move him out of the way.
If he’s playing with something unsafe like a sharp object, how fast do you think I would be there to snatch it from him?
Finally, whenever we race, I let him know how much faster than him I am (although, that won’t last forever).
Telepathy
This may be my favorite and will confuse him for years, maybe forever. This super power keeps me several steps ahead of him.
He believes I can read his mind and see into the future. He doesn’t know that I know what he is thinking. He doesn’t know that I know the results of the decisions.
He doesn’t understand that I knew his plans before he planned them, let alone before he put his plan to work.
You should see his face when I say “Don’t do that before he even tried”. You should see his face when I tell him this will happen when he does something he is considering doing.
I can predict his future for many reasons and here are three:
1. I am involved.
2. I plan it.
3. I have been through a lot of the things he will experience.
It is amazing to either hear him say “How did you know that?”. It’s even more fun to respond with “I’m your dad, I know everything” and they actually believe it.
Super Stamina
This one may be the hardest.
He doesn’t think I get tired because I don’t show him. I show him that I will never give up.
I have worked multiple jobs before. He knows I, along with his mother, have stayed up countless nights making sure he was alright. There have been times where I have worked all day and responded to an emergency for him and stayed up all night.
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There have been times where I got up early, made him breakfast, got him ready and off for school and then went to work. Later, I picked up him up from school, helped him with homework, played with him, made dinner and cleaned up after both of us.
Then I got him ready for bed, put him to sleep and worked on my personal stuff into the wee hours of the morning.
As far as he is concerned, I have super stamina because I refuse to give up.
Fearlessness
To put this in perspective, I have a strong dislike for flying bugs. I really don’t like bees.
My son will never know that. Before he was born I was Clark Kent when he relinquished his powers.
My fears came from childhood. I was attacked by bees every day during one summer while working for the post office.
They had a nest in a community mailbox and attacked me every single time I had to put the mail in that mailbox. Imagine fighting those bees and being stung over and over again.
Got it?
Well, if I see one when he is around, I have to convince him with my actions and words that they won’t sting him and he will be alright if he remains calm. I have to be calm and fearless for him.
Being fearless in the midst of bees prepare me to be fearless for every other category in our lives.
Everything else is easy.
I will protect him with the Fearless Father Shield.
Save The Day
Will all these powers plus more, I can save the day! I can be his hero, the person he looks up to and depends on to save the day!
I accepted the mission! I became a Superhero!