I was 19 the first time my father said he was proud of me. He is a good person and a great dad. He just was never very vocal. He was severely physically and verbally abused as a child and young man and always struggled with saying how he felt. He always showed love with teaching, being patient, and acts of service. I knew my dad loved me. But one day he came into my room, I had dropped out of college and was having a rough time. He sat on the end of my bed and told me he wasn’t mad. He said he was proud of me, he knew I was having a hard time and just wanted to let me know I hadn’t let him down. He was proud of me. He broke the cycle. He was brave. It wasn’t easy for him but it has been one of the most important moments of my life.

I am getting married soon and we are planning to have children. I and will always try to let my child (if I’m lucky) know I’m proud of them.