Aldeer is a great place that I have really enjoyed over the last couple of years.

Some of my favorite posts are of guys showing themselves spending time with their kids. There seems to be ALOT of good dads on this site- Whether they are dads to bilogical kids, "step kids", "adopted kids", or even kids that they are fostering for whatever reasons need be.

There was a post back around Christmas asking what everyones favorite Christmas present was. To me it was a no brainer, I'd like to tell you guys a little about it and about the time that I met my dad.

I guess Most people don't "meet" their dad, most just are born with them and just grow up always having him, my situation was a little different.

I don't remember exactly how old I was but It was sometime around The winter of I'm thinkin 1997ish..That would have put me at 10, nearly 11 years old, when I met my dad.

My mom and biological father split up when Me and my brother were 6, our sister was newly born-maybe a year old. For about 5 or so years me and Travis became the men of the house.

Around that time of '97 (?)mom had went on a date with a fella she had met through her work place at the time. An old lady that lived across the complex from us had agreed to babysit us kids that night. Me and Travis hated going over to that womans house, We were men, we didn't need no babysitter. Mom insisted.

We did the same things that night that any 75 year old babysitter would let you do. Absolutely nothing.

Fast forward a couple of hours and mom had got back from her date. She came over to the babysitters to square away with a payment and she gave me the keys to our apartment. She told me that Chris, her date, was out at his truck and to show him up to our apartment. I had to pass his truck while walking back to our apartment. I didn't even glance at him, just kept walkin on by. Not sure if I was being shy or just didn't wanna bother with it. I unlocked the house and after a few minutes everyone made it inside. Mom introduced all of us to him and him to us. That was the day I met my dad.

I remember me and Travis playin basketball in the living room while him and mom sat on the couch watching us. We had a tv but it was maybe a 10" with rabbit ears and produced very little entertainment. The basketball hoop we had was about the diameter of a coffe can and we had thumb tacked it to the wall. The "basketball"was a cruddy little foam ball about the size of a baseball. We had got this little hoop set up from one of the local goodwills or salvation armys. We took turns pretending to be Michael Jordan. We weren't rich, but we didn't ever do without. Mom's date must have been paying attention to us that night.

A few weeks later rolled around, it was Christmas. He didn't have to, but Moms boyfriend had bought me and my brother a Christmas present. Nothing fancy or expensive but something that gave us a thrill. It was a basketball hoop that hung on a door frame and came with a small basketball. We set that thing up and had dunk contest after dunk contest in our hallway. We'd play horse and 2 on 1 basketball games- us two brothers against him. It was and to this day still is my favorite christmas present. He didn't have to buy that, but I'm thankful he did. It was the first father son bonding that I was able to experience with him. At the time he was mom's boyfriend, now he's my dad..my mechanic, my deer guide, fishing teacher, and all around handy man. There's no doubt that I'm the man I am largely because of him.He's taught me everything I know, but not everything he knows.

He decided to be a dad at a time that he didn't have to. Some of you guys in the same situation right now may not realize it, but those kids are greatful and always will be. Whether it's a bilogical kid, adopted, step or fostered kid.

I see alot of good quality parents on this site, men and women and wanted to let you all know to keep up the good work. I don't have kids but I hope to at least be half the man that my dad is.

Awesome stone man...somebody cutting onions around here I believe.

One of these days I'm gonna meet you and Travis and be able to tell you face to face how proud I am of the men you both have obviously grown up to be.

Good stuff

Great post!

Got my dang allergies acting up. Wow. That's a great post. Thank you for sharing!

Congrats on a great milestone!

Great stone.

A super good post, congrats!

Great post !

Nice Post

Cool stone

Great post. I would give anything to hear something like that from my step sons. Your dad must be very proud how you turned out.

Awesome post, y'all are richly blessed

Good stuff hoss
Great read and I personally appreciate this post in so many ways. I remember the day it happened with me as well my friend. I'm more than thankful for those men that step up and be the dad that "He didn't have to be"

Great post and congrats on the 'stone. I have no idea if your dad is an Aldeer member or not, but I hope Travis shows him this post.

Now that's good to read!

Onions, allergies, or something here too! Thanks for posting this....just so refreshing to hear a good story today. I too, hope that you or your brother will let your Dad read this.

Nice milestone post.