The ‘Dada’ Effect

There is a dad; it’s “dad” because that’s what his little daughter calls him. Actually, it’s the only thing she has ever called him. To be fair, he had always preferred to be called “father” because it commanded respect and edge. But as soon as she uttered her first words, saying “dada,” he was hooked on the most potent feeling he had ever encountered. Ever since that day, he has struggled to put a name to that feeling or let it go.

When he meets his female friends at the mall while picking out his daughter’s stockings and tiny dresses, they greet them with numerous compliments, mostly directed at her. He is largely ignored, but that’s okay because she is the center of his world. If she grabs a few more hearts along the way, he is fine with that.

They say it’s his love for her that has him hooked, and that he should stay in that state for as long as possible. Time flies quickly, and before he knows it, she will be out of his grasp, navigating the world as an adult. He hates that part of the conversation and tunes it out as soon as it shifts to the looming reality.

His mother was helpful in raising his daughter until he finished school. His daughter is now five and has started school, but he still hasn’t come to terms with it. He can’t stand the fear that grips him when he drops her off at school. He drives home praying that the teachers and other students are kind to his angel. At the end of his prayer, he prays that she gains the strength to handle whatever the world throws at her, especially if it’s full of bullies.

Now, he’s at the beach with his daughter, and she smiles endlessly. She loves the beach and has a weird habit of trying to stare straight at the scorching sun. He tells her it’s dangerous and castigates himself for forgetting her favorite shades. However, he soon spots a vendor selling colorful shades, and he buys them for her. He could buy her anything, even the whole world; the price wouldn’t be a problem. She would just have to say it, and he would find a way to pay for it, just as he has done for the past several years.

He thinks they make a formidable team, and with her by his side, he can conquer the world for her if she desires it. Amazingly, she loves simple things. At the beach, she enjoys walking along the shore as the water tickles her feet and picking up small twigs to arrange them in whatever order she feels is appropriate.

Now, he sits her on his lap as the sun goes down. She wears her flowery sweater and looks deadbeat, repeatedly falling into his chest as she tries to resist sleep. She still wants to experience the sunset, but her body can’t wait to sleep. So, he enjoys the setting sun for both of them, as only a few minutes ago, she was taken in by a deep slumber. He will wait at the beach until it’s dark and then drive her home. This is her favorite place, so they’ll be back soon.

She has neatly bookended his responsibilities as a man. If she was a mistake, like many older women ignorantly screamed at him at the time, then some mistakes are not bad after all. He loves this mistake and doesn’t see himself stopping.