Chapter 4: Daddy Wore Special “Rose-Colored Daddy-Glasses” 

When a person sees through “rose-colored glasses”, they view the world through a uniquely beautiful lens that defies reality. This defined my Daddy’s vision. Daddy never looked at me through the mundane eyes of the world. He always wore super-magical, specially tailored “rose-colored Daddy-glasses”. Daddy’s arms were my firm embrace, a sanctuary of warmth and unconditional love. His voice, wafting through the air, would sing, ‘and you’re Daddy’s little girl’. His gentle voice was an anchor, holding me steady. 

My Ugly, Awkward Stage 

During elementary school, I passed through a phase when the mirror presented a challenge, a reflection of an ‘overwhelmingly ugly and awkward stage.  In my young mind, it felt less like a phase and more like a permanent state. My shoulders would hunch just a little, trying to disappear. Looking back at the pictures, I assure you this was not just a matter of opinion. My stomach still clenches when I recall one specific horrifying school photo – the dreadful little boy pixie-cut on an ugly child dressed in a wretched green plaid shirt dress. That image singularly cemented my disdain for that shade of green forevermore.  As a teenager, I went on a search and destroy mission to find and shred those dreaded snapshots as I knew I would be embarrassed for anyone to ever see them.  It felt like an act of desperate self-preservation, a fervent attempt to erase the evidence of my visual history.   

My ugly awkward stage perfectly illustrates how profoundly challenging and even ‘horrid’ these ‘inconceivable phases’ of childhood can feel. I was, in essence, a ‘poster child’ for this discomfort. However, these awkward stages are fleeting; the remarkable truth is that ‘just wait a minute and any child will certainly morph again.’ This constant evolution – the way children grow and change, moving past what once seemed unbearable – is precisely ‘the wonder and beauty of children!’ It’s a miracle that my Daddy understood and saw a deeper truth all along, looking beyond my outward appearance.  He never wavered in his adoration, making me feel ‘beautiful’ even when I felt ugly, because he saw me through his super-magical, specially tailored “rose-colored Daddy-glasses.” 

Daddy’s “Rose-Colored Daddy-glasses” 

I reflect in total amazement that Daddy could express to me how beautiful I was, especially when I see photos of those early years. It’s a stark contrast, unbelievable, because no matter how ugly I felt, or how I saw myself in those frightful pictures, he never wavered in his adoration for me. If he were alive today, he would absolutely say that he saw me as beautiful.  

When I was with Daddy, he made me feel beautiful. He rarely passed by me without a kind word, a gentle hug that melted away my worries, or a soft kiss on my forehead. These weren’t mere gestures; they were daily affirmations, each one a brushstroke painting my world in hues of safety and adoration. Knowing that I was beautiful in Daddy’s eyes gifted me with unshakable confidence to face the outside world. It was a shield, forged from his love, that protected me even when the children at school might not be as kind or compassionate. Their taunts bounced off, dulled and softened by the echo of his ‘beautiful’ in my ears, a constant reassurance. 

It is remarkable to think that a father could be so blinded by love for his child that he sees beauty when it is so obviously evident to the contrary in anyone else’s opinion. But then again, that was my Daddy. His unique vision wasn’t just a daily blessing; it created moments, vivid and cherished, like my birthday. 

Birthday Memories 

On my 5th birthday; Mommy dressed me up in a beautiful little frilly dress with a giant bow. The netted crinoline puffed out delightfully underneath, making me feel like a tiny, cherished princess. I adored my new birthday dress. But the most important part wasn’t the dress itself; it was the ritual. Daddy was the one who always had to tie my bows and shoelaces. I’d stand perfectly still, feeling the gentle tug of his fingers, the focused concentration in his brow. I had to have my bows tied perfectly tight, a stubborn demand only he understood. Daddy could make the bows and laces super tight, each knot a promise of strong security. 

We were getting ready for our family friends to come to my party. Mommy had bought a creatively decorated birthday cake appearing as an elaborate dress with a Barbie Doll in the center – a confectionary masterpiece. Soon all the children would be playing ‘duck, duck goose, musical chairs, Simon says, and red-light green-light’ in the backyard while our parents chatted happily on lawn chairs. But before the joyful chaos, Daddy had a special plan. 

Daddy took me outside by the garden to make a film memory for my birthday, with me in my pretty party dress. The sunlight dappled through the vibrant green leaves, casting dancing shadows as he aimed his camera. He told me to walk towards him and then stop and touch the roses, a demonstration showing him the beautiful flowers in bloom. Lost in the moment, caught between the camera’s lens and Daddy’s smile, I wasn’t looking carefully at the rose as I touched it. I pricked my finger embarrassingly on the thorns and made an “ouch!” face. Daddy laughed, not unkindly, but with joyful tenderness, and caught the whole episode on film. He told me not to worry. ‘It just makes the memory even more precious, he chuckled. It only endeared him more to that special day forever trapped in celluloid film. 

Daddy told me that without a doubt, I would certainly grow up to be “as beautiful as Mommy”. Without question, Daddy admired my beautiful Mommy. He complimented and highlighted her in every way possible. Daddy always told me the truth, so I believed everything he said to be true. His unwavering honesty, combined with his boundless love for Mommy, created an impregnable fortress of security and trust around me. Daddy’s admiration and love for Mommy instilled in me an added feeling of security and trust. I never doubted his love for me. 

Years later, I found a verse that perfectly encapsulated Daddy’s extraordinary gift, his unique way of seeing through his super-magical, specially tailored “rose-colored Daddy-glasses”: