It is my daughter’s 8th birthday.

Slowly but surely, my little babydoll is growing into a young woman. A beautiful young woman both inside and out.

I kid her that I’m not letting her turn 8, but that she has to stay 7 for many more years.

She knows I’m having fun with her, and so she continuously reminds me that 8 is her new number.

But inside, I really do wish I could somehow press a “pause” button to keep my children from growing up so I can continue to cherish the few short years they are young.

I’m sure you know what I’m talking about, fellow dad.

But since there is no such button, we dads get to shoulder the ongoing challenges, responsibilities, adventures, pain, and joy of fatherhood as our children continue their growth upward toward adulthood.

Singer/songwriter Stephen Curtis Chapman has a song called “Cinderella” that is appropriate for me to hear today. He wrote it one night after getting his 4 year old daughters to bed and then reflecting on his 21 year old daughter who had since “left the nest” of living at home.

The music video for this song is so impactful, I decided to post it at the FamilyDads website.

If you have a daughter, you will appreciate its inspiring message.

Watch the music video here.

If you know other dads who have daughters, forward this link to them so they too can watch this music video and be reminded that one day the clock will strike midnight for them too, and their “Cinderella” will be gone.

Blessings to you and your family,
Joey Watkins
Founder, FamilyDads

P.S. - Need ideas for nurturing your relationship with your daughter? Click Here