DIGGER1!
I hope you read this...
I just participated in a topic about fathers somewhere on WP. It was started by Pugly.
All this stuff made me think about your post a little while ago where you talked about how worried you were concerning you being a good father to your daughter.
I think you're going to do just fine!
I know this post is a bit 'old' per internet standards, but I just had to come back and say a few things.
Just from the two topics you've started about your daughter, the pics you posted of you being there for the delivery, her mom, and her, I can't help but believe you are going to be a great dad!
Everything I know about you so far (and I know SO much, lol) shows me how much you care about baby Livy.
I'll bet that if you just be yourself, you two will have a great life together.
I started out by treating my daughter as a person just like me. I never gave her some sort of inferior status when talking to her, playing with her, reading to her or listening to her.
Just give her that same option and I'm sure she'll appreciate her dad so much.
From that one picture at the hospital where you are clowning around for the camera, I get the sense that you can be a real fun guy.
Perhaps some adults might not understand your humor sometimes, but your daughter will totally understand it because it is the genuine YOU, and that is the only person she will ever know and will assuredly grow to love.
I found that when I lost control (my shouting, stomping around, cussing out loud stuff when I'd get upset at myself), I actually scared my daughter. This would make me incredibly sad and ashamed, but I would find the strength to go to her and always explain that this is what I did even before she came along and this had NOTHING to do with her.
Today, at 14yo, she has learned that I have my idiosyncrasies, yet I still love her and she is always safe with me.
She's been through all that, my tumultuous trek through my 'gender issues', her parent's divorce, and she is still a wonderful kid.
She seems to be handling things well so far, and I believe it's because of how her mom and I have always respected her place on this earth as another human just like her folks.
Okay, I'm getting off track here... sorry....
Thinking about your little treasure hunts coming up, how much you love your daughter, and the fact that you treat us to this happy place in your life, just makes me smile
I want to do something for you...
I recently got an AS book for a friend, "All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome"
It's a children's book with cute photos of kittens and something about AS on each page.
I think it is well written and a good book for any child. I would have been reading this to our daughter even though I knew nothing about AS back when she was small. It's a good book!
Anyway, after I bought that first book, I ordered a second. Not sure why, but I just like it so much I went and had the bookstore get another copy.
So, I have this copy waiting for you and your daughter.
I just need an address to send it to. It can be a work address, a friend's address or your own if you don't mind giving it to me over a private message or email.
I really want to send this book to you all. It's a gift. When you get it, if you feel it's right for your family, then I'll be happy knowing you'll be reading it to your daughter. She deserves to know that her dad is a special person in a good way. Be the first one to teach her how wonderful an Aspie can be! Don't let society get the first word in on that!
So, to make a long post short , I would be honored if you would accept my offer! No thanks required, just pass on a little kindness to someone else someday if you like
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fides solus
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