Reading with Dad

MANILA, Philippines - My father loves to read.

He likes to take a journey back in time via history books, discover how big things and amazing wonders in the world started through non-fiction and be updated with the latest news around the globe with a dose of a tabloid or broadsheet every day.

I grew up seeing him in the morning holding a cup of coffee in his right hand and a newspaper in the other while he sat comfortably on his wooden chair by the window. If his favorite TV show was not playing, he’d spend the rest of the day finishing a book.

I can therefore say that I learned to love reading at the young age of five because of him. I can still remember the very first book that I ever had: that thin Abakada book with a yellow cover showing a mother teaching her kids. Nanay would also take time to recite with me the letters and words in the book but I found Tatay’s teaching style more “effective” because he would buy me a toy or a snack after I would read (or should I say memorize) everything written on a page.

Such memories hit me like it was just yesterday when I discovered the book The Reading Promise: My Father and the Books We Shared by Alice Ozma after a friend who visited me left it in my office. 

At first, I thought the book was just a memoir of the author who chronicles the great learning journey she had with her dad after they challenged themselves to read together each night for 100 consecutive days which eventually extended to 1,000 nights and continued to almost a decade of what they called “The Streak” which only ended when Alice left their home for college.  I would also consider the book as a tribute to Jim Brozina, the author’s father, for his remarkable dedication to his daughter.

How I wish I could also do the same or at least accomplish something similar to this parenting feat. With the many distractions children prefer these days more than reading, like iPads, video games and 24-hour cartoon shows, I hope I can still instill the same passion and love I have for books in my son. The story of the book is my inspiration and Jim is my icon.

Indeed, the lessons learned from Jim and Alice’s father and daughter relationship define what fatherhood is all about. I Googled the word and found Thefreedictionary.com describes it as “The kinship relation between an offspring and the father.” But for me, no dictionary can give better the real meaning of the word than the heart of a loving father.

And while I am trying to follow the footsteps of Jim to raise an Alice out of my own toddler, I suddenly realize that I also have some fatherhood moments worth sharing that I come out with more definitions to the word. For me, fatherhood is…

1. Not minding carrying a pack of diapers, a can of milk and a stroller to what should be a relaxing weekend family date.

2. Memorizing the theme songs of Barney, Hi-5 and the Mickey Mouse Club House and other silly tunes to be able to sing along with my son.

3. Conceding to change the TV channel for another replay of Winnie the Pooh even if it means I would miss the last two minutes of an exciting basketball game.

4. Smiling even when my shirt gets messy with spaghetti sauce and ice cream because I’ve allowed my kid to have it “his way.”

5. Praying that I could change places with my son whenever he is sick.

6. Waking up in the wee hours to change my child’s diaper even though I just slept for a few hours and need to rise up early for work in the morning.

7. Experiencing the greatest joy a man can feel even with the simplest thing like every time my son says, “I love you, Daddy!”

8. Making sure that I put on the best love for the most amazing gift that I’ve ever received in life — my son Charles.

I am just excited for my son to finally learn to read. We have dozens of books to finish at home and ahundreds at bookstores and libraries to visit someday. It would really be a blast to read along with him and stand by him as he discovers how wonderful the world of reading is.

THIS WEEK’S WINNER

Richard Mamuyac, 36. is the communications specialist of the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) and also does freelance writing. He graduated from the University of the East with a degree of AB Communication Arts. He blogs at Astig Machismis and Mapanghingi ka ba?