I’VE GOT SUNSHINE ON A CLOUDY DAY – Only daughter turning 25

By Dave Pratt

With tears in my eyes, she was handed to me, swaddled in a tiny little pink blanket. When I spoke softly, she instantly recognized my low voice and her little head burrowed into my chest. After 3 older brothers, I kneeled and whispered to her Mom. “What do I know about girls? What if she doesn’t love me?” The nurses and her Mom laughed and assured me…”Don’t be ridiculous. You are her daddy”.   

Although being a new dad, I was never really nervous with my boys. Sure, I felt extreme responsibility and love, but I was never “nervous”. In fact, in general, I never really get “nervous”. I have been blessed to be on the biggest stages and in many pressure situations, both with family and with my career. But nervous? Hardly ever. Truth is, I am usually over-confident about this crazy world. So why now? Why does this tiny baby in a little blanket have me feeling so much anxiety?  Well, with girls and women in general, I have never really understood them. The problem is, they are smarter than us. It’s not fair. When it comes to girls and women in my life, I have always sort of clumsily faked it and gotten by. But this is my daughter!! I have a girl! I was now officially a “girl dad”!! What if she asks me for advice? Or what if she wants to talk about female stuff? Or what if she wants to talk to me at all?

Many people may not know this since I have never been on a spiritual soapbox in my career, but I believe in God and pray every single day. To me, it is a very personal relationship. I always include my family in my prayers, but I found myself praying for a considerable amount of time each day about how to be a good “girl’s dad”.  I prayed for guidance. Girls do not come with an instruction manual, and neither do boys. But I am a guy!! I understand, guys. Even today, when I talk privately with my boys, it just feels natural, as I have 64 years of experience being a guy. Heck, I have made more mistakes in life than all 3 of my boys ever will, combined. I know how to share with my boys to make them better young men. No problem! 

Girls are different. Guys, I have learned that you really must stop everything, put down the phone, turn the TV off, stop driving or whatever, and listen. I mean, REALLY LISTEN with 100% focus. Don’t talk. Just shut up and listen. Don’t worry about what you are going to say next, and don’t worry about hugging or consoling until after. Just LISTEN! I don’t care if it takes 5 minutes or 5 hours, or even an entire day. Just listen. Really LISTEN. This is the biggest gift of love to a girl, and what we learn as guys is that if we really listen to our girls and women, it is the biggest gift of all to ourselves. We learn. And most importantly, we learn about the most precious jewels in our lives. Just LISTEN. Lead by your consistent loving actions, not by your words.

After delivery, my daughter had to stay in the hospital for a bit, so Madison slept on my chest in a recliner. It was the best sleep of my life. Hers too! I made up a little song, and the only lyrics are “I love you”. I would sing it or quietly hum it repeatedly until she went to sleep. And when we arrived home, every night she would fall asleep on me in my favorite comfy chair. Some nights it would only be for a few minutes, and then we would place her in her crib. On those nights, I would sit in a rocking chair and stare at her. I am 6’2, and every now and then, I would lean over the crib just so I could make sure she was breathing. What did I know? And some nights we would fall asleep together in the chair and sleep for hours, then I would change her, feed her, and we would fall back to sleep. It was pure heaven. Paula would wake me up on some mornings so I could make it to my morning radio show. I even found myself cancelling many weekend appearances for the radio station so I could stay home and be with her and my boys. Luckiest dad ever.  

On her first Thanksgiving, we went to the dining room at San Marcos Resort in Chandler. To stop her from crying, my mom sat Maddie on my lap. I was so proud and wanted everybody to see me holding my daughter!! Over the years, at every meal, either at home or elsewhere, we have always made it a point to sit by each other.

Today, along with her Mom, Madison is the most beautiful girl in the world. In fact, she is stunning both inside and out. She is finishing up her master’s in clinical psychology as she wants to help people. Huge heart!

No father has ever loved a daughter more. For her birthday, this is my wish.