Two of my favorite times of the year at the Commonwealth are Mother's Day and Father's Day because of the two "of the year" stories I get to write.
I love getting to celebrate our community members each week in the Lifestyles section, but I particularly enjoy these two Sundays because the stories are about two of the most important persons in a child's life. It is also an opportunity for the sons and daughters of those great individuals, whether chosen or not, to recognize all the love and hard work their parents have put into raising them.
I was glad to have the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Bishop Milton Glass this past week after he was selected by our committee as the Commonwealth's 2011 Father of the Year.
During our short time together, I wasn't surprised his daughter nominated him for the honor.
Glass was very warm and easy to speak to, a trait I believe is found in many great fathers, and I felt like if I had a problem, he would not only be a listening ear but a good support system.
He seemed like someone on whom you could depend.
I noticed that Glass' daughter, Stephanie, couldn't help but smile when she looked at him, and she got tongue-tied when asked about her dad. That is a feeling I can all too well understand.
For better or worse, parents help shape us into the adults we become.
As a daughter, I know, I have not always been as appreciative as I should, especially toward my dad. Although I wouldn't truly consider myself a mommy's girl, I find myself calling my mom much more often than I do my dad.
What I enjoyed most about my conversation with Bishop Glass and Stephanie and reading through this year's nominations was the continual emphasize on the importance of the father being a part of the child's life, not just providing the needs.
I believe that is absolutely the secret to parenting, in general.
When I think about my dad, and I am sure many of you feel the same way, I think about the time we spent together, not the money he earned for our daily needs.
My dad always involved me in his life from our daddy-daughter activities, such as joining a bowling team and learning to make model cars, to just hanging out with him at his office or in the car to and from school.
I don't believe the United States has put enough emphasis on the importance of fathering or parenting - countries such as Sweden have made strides in prioritizing male involvement by offering paid paternity leave in addition to maternity leave.
I am glad to be a part of a paper and a community that holds moms and dads up as examples, and you should be, too.
Thank you to those who submitted nominations this year and in years past and those fathers who have made a difference in so many children's lives in this community.
Happy Fathers Day to all dads and future dads and, of course, to my dad of the year every year.
•Contact Andrea Hall at ahall@gwcommonwealth.com.
