He doesn't know...

• That I hear him sweetly break when she asks for just one more HUG after the ten prior.
• That I hear him explaining the rules of a new game with PATIENCE over and over again.
• That I hear him making CONVERSATION at 7am over breakfast before school when I know he’s exhausted.
• That I hear his footsteps when he’s the dancing MONSTER making her cringe with laughter.
• That I hear him CONSOLING her with gentle personal experience when she’s been bullied.
• That I hear his myriad of VOICES for the fictional characters he’s reading to her.
• That I hear him build her CONFIDENCE when knocked down by a difficult problem.
• That I hear him join in on her FOOLISHNESS like an improv partner.
• That I hear him GIGGLING alongside her during their favorite tv shows.
• That I hear him gingerly approach the subject of hygiene in the bathroom, delicately managing her SELF-ESTEEM.
• That I hear him say I love you with SINCERITY.
• That I hear him sternly express disappointment followed by loving REASSURANCE when a lesson is to be learned.
• That I hear him saying yes to SPENDING extra when he doesn’t have the extra to spend.
• That I hear him offer verbal cues of INTEREST at the most mundane and lengthy stories filled with young girl’s names from the playground.
• That I hear him laughing at her SILLINESS and serving as her captive audience when she needs one.
• That I hear him HONESTLY answering her questions about his life and choices.
• That I hear him GUIDING her on lessons of art and expression while doing the dance of letting her do it her way.
• That I hear him subtly teaching her what it is to be BLACK in America.
• That I hear him packing and PREPPING for a 14 hour drive to get time in with his little one and get the sisters laughing together.
• That I hear how earnestly he APOLOGIZES when he’s accidentally hurt her in play or in jest.
• That I hear him set aside the stressors going on in his life to make sure SHE'S HEARD.
• That I hear him wheelin and DEALIN to get funding or transportation for an activity she has an interest in.
• That I hear him sneaking in ADVICE around these creatures called boys that she winces at.
• That I hear him taking my notes when he gets it WRONG.
• That I hear him scribbling notes of love for her lunchbox.
• That I hear him negotiating costly things like summer camp and new roller skates.
• That I hear him coming up with ideas to fashion his sweatshirt into a skirt when she's soaked her dress at the amusement park.
• That I hear him keeping his COOL when she's not her best self.
• That I hear him on the phone with Hollis's mom working through problem solving on her behalf to protect her and ADVOCATE for her.

But I do. Good dad.