Never looks for praise

Never boasts

Just always working hard

For the ones that he loves the most

His wants are very few

Through the storms of life

His hand is always sturdy to hold

In times of stress and strife

A true friend to turn to

You taught me that a bird

Must leave the nest and fly

That in time I would leave

Then soar the skies

It was your love and guidance

That reinforced my wings

You lifted me before I soared

Towards life’s greatest things

Not everyone is fortunate enough

To have a father like you

I am truly blessed to have you

Dad

Colonel Young

 

“Emily, you can achieve anything you set your head to, but you’re really going to have to work hard for it. You’re so smart, and you can do anything.”

My father, Todd is a  hard working, determined, loving man. He always has taught my right from wrong, more than anyone else. He is a veteran, but he is so humble about it. That is one thing I admire the most. Twenty-four years in the Marines, Air Force, and the Air National Guard is something to be proud of. I want my future career to be in the Navy. The Annapolis Naval Academy is a huge goal of mine. My father can take most of the credit for me wanting a career in the military. When I was young, he taught me so many life lessons, that I will remember, and use for the rest of my life.

One of my favorite stories of my dad and I is so funny, and he taught me a lesson at the same time. I was about 4 or 5 when this happened, but surprisingly, I still remember it like it was yesterday. My Dad, Mom and I were outside playing, we had a giant cup of water that we were going to drink when we were done playing.

“Emily, if you have to use the bathroom, I need you to tell your mom so she can take you in so you stop peeing your pants.”

“Okay dad, I will”

When I was this age, I loved playing outside more than anything, and I would pee my pants so I didn’t have to go inside for one second. It became a messy habit, and my mother and father got tired of having to clean up after me just because I didn’t want to go inside even for a second.

“Do you need to use the bathroom Emily?”

“No, dad!”

Let’s remember, as I said no to my dad, I was holding myself like children do when they have to pee very badly.

“If you don’t go in and use the bathroom, you’re going to stay inside for the rest of the day and evening,” my father said a little frustrated.

“Dad, I don’t have to use the bathroom!”

Like any stubborn little kid, we could hold our business unusually long if we really tried. Well, little Emily was the queen of holding in her business. For as long as she could, anyways.

A few minutes went by, and I couldn’t hold my pee in anymore.

My face immediately turned red, pee ran down my pant leg, into my shoes, and all over the ground. I was almost positive no one saw me pee myself, but sure enough, guess who watched it happen, play by play, the one who told me six times to go use the bathroom, my father.

He didn’t yell, he just gave me that famous dad look. Remember that cup of water I was talking about? Yeah, dad dumped that over my head, ice cubes and all.  As I stood there crying, soaking wet, and cold, my dad said some words I’ll never forget.

“When someone tells you to do something Emily, you go and do it. No if, ands, or buts about it.”

At the time, I thought my dad was the meanest guy in the whole world. As I have gotten older, I have come to realize that my dad did not do that to be mean, he did it to teach me a lesson. That lesson has stuck with me since the day that cup of ice cold water was dumped over my head. It will for the rest of my life.

The moral of the story is, I have not ever peed my pants again, and I listen to when people tell me to do things. Well, most of the time anyways.

As time has went on, I finally realized why my parents, especially my dad, do everything that they have in the past. Everyone should have the privilege to have a pretty awesome dad, like mine.