So when I was a child, my dad was a violent, alcoholic, asshole. And for a long time, that’s the only perspective I had of him. Now that I’m older and there are children around me, I can appreciate that he, for all of his glaring faults, was always present. Some dads aren’t that way. He was always there and always held us accountable and always to a high standard: nothing ever slipped.

In my case, the penalty inflicted for not meeting those standards was terrible… but as an adult I can have respect and some admiration for a father who makes time everyday to interact with his child, help them be aware of his or her responsibilities, and help the child meet them.