The saying goes, ”˜any fool can become a father, not everyone can be a dad.’

I am blessed to count myself as one of the lucky few to who understand the difference, having been taught by the two most important men in my life.

One of my earliest memories was waiting at home for my dad to finish up work and come through that door. Being a baker, there was no set time that we could automatically expect him to show up. So when the door swung open and I heard his booming voice calling for me, a full-tilt sprint into his arms was in order. I’d be overwhelmed with the smells of the bakery coming off him, a smell he still carries with him today.

My dad was then and still is today an undeniable provider. Rain or shine, thick or thin he woke up every day long before sunrise and pushed himself to the limits to bring home that paycheck every week. He never complained about his responsibilities, he simply did what it took to take care of his family.

Looking back, I never fully appreciated everything he did for us, and what he did he did in stride. His commitment to being our father never faltered, and he raised me with the solid belief that being there for your kids is just what you do. Turning your back is simply not an option.

I suppose, these days, hearing about guys who walk away from their children has become somewhat mainstream. Deadbeat dads who refuse to be there, provide for or care about children they helped to create isn’t that unheard of.

You can try and justify it any which way you please, but babies need both their parents in their lives to feel like complete and loved people. I’ve seen, first hand, how much it rips apart a child to have either parent walk away from them. That’s a hole deep inside that will never heal. To me, there is no excuse worthy of explaining that one away. The kids don’t deserve that.

What doesn’t seem to get all that much attention is the dads who do stay, who tough it out week after week, year after year just for that child. They are the ones, much like my father, who never are told enough how great they really are just for being there and for loving their kids.

Much like my father, my husband made the decision, at a very early age, to accept the responsibility of the children in his life. For most of their young childhood he worked up to three full-time jobs to provide for them while their mother stayed home to take care of them. Whatever they needed he found a way to make it happen.

When their mother took off, my husband never even considered throwing in the towel. He changed his whole world to be everything for all three of his children and never looked back. Overnight, he became both their father and mother. He never complained about the monstrous pressure of raising them on his own, rather he accepted it as his life. He was the kind of dad who never missed a single game, recital or birthday.

A decade later, each of them have grown to be strong, intelligent young adults, thanks to the unconditional love and support he’s unfailingly showered on them. He remains their rock, the one they run to because even after all they’ve been through they know to the depths of their souls he will always be there.

My father and my husband are by far the two greatest fathers I’ve ever met. They both have their personal doubts about how they’ve raised their kids and they both have no idea the positive impact they have had on their children. If they didn’t doubt their every mistake then they wouldn’t be the perfect dads they really are. It shows they care that much more.

One of the greatest gifts of my life is well into adulthood discovering a rare and amazing friendship in my father. Regardless of any bumps we’ve had along the way, I couldn’t ask for a better role model, father and now great friend in him. It’s a gift I appreciate everyday.

Now watching Kevin with his own children and accepting my daughter into his life and heart has made me become a better mother, wife and friend. He’s shown me what true patience and acceptance is, and is still teaching me to embrace every moment I share with my little girl.

I love you both more than you could possibly know.

Happy Father’s Day.

— Elizabeth Reilly can be reached at elizabethreilly1@yahoo.com.