My daughter's essay

I received this in the mail with a note from my daughter's teacher that read:

Dear Influential Person,

Enclosed you will find a copy of an essay a student wrote about you.  The student was asked to write about an influential person in his/her life.  You should feel honored to have been chosen.  You are making a difference in a child's life.

And, here is what my daughter wrote:

My Delightful Diverse Dad

Written by Allison Chiu

November 2012

His eyes dark like dirt. His hair smooth and black like a Sharpie. Not tall like a building. Nor short like a stump, but perfectly in the middle. Courageous like a tight rope walker and brave like an explorer. Funny like a clown, loving like a teddy bear. Kid-friendly like a character. Smart and accurate like a calculator. Athletic like a dog and fast like a cheetah. Strong like an elephant and helpful like a pencil. Happy like every day is his birthday and creative like an artist. That is just who my dad is.

He is the funniest and most athletic of six children and has two older brothers and three older sisters. He also have eleven myopic nieces and nephews and one intelligent nephew-in-law. My brother, Matthew, and I are his two lucky children and we are the youngest of of our cousins. He has black, silky hair, dark brown eyes and you will usually find him during the day with clip-on sunglasses over his spectacles and a well-loved Mets cap on his head. He is very organized, smart and athletic. You can trust him on almost everything as he is very trustworthy.

My dad has been an influence to me almost every day. He has helped with homework and things I don't understand. He lives by the words “Live for your passions because you only live once.” One thing he has really influenced me on is pursuing your passions. He worked at National Grid for 19 years but didn't get to fulfill his dreams of being a stay at home dad and elementary school teacher.

Therefore, he quit his job and now he stays at home with my brother and me. In addition, he is also going to school online through NYIT. Teaching has always been his passion. He taught Junior Achievement for my classes in 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th grades. Now, he is teaching a 2^nd grade class and my brother's 3^rd grade class. He loves to play and teach tennis. He taught me how to play and now I enjoy playing very much. Now he is teaching my brother and his two friends.

After elementary school graduation this past June, I came home and on the couch there were my stuffed animals. They are all very special to me and have names and personalities. They were siting with a sheet of paper which read “Congratulations Allison”. Around those words all their names were signed in different colors. That day was so special I remember it like it was yesterday. That's just one way my dad makes me feel loved!

He is my dad. I will love him no matter what and he will always be my most influential person.  

Where do I start a list of what I am thankful for?

On this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for many things.  But, where does that list start?  Should I be thankful for my parents who conceived me?  Or, perhaps the thanks go to their parents for having them?  Of course, the same dilemma applies to my wife with whom my life today would not be the same?

And, how about being thankful for our two wonderful children?  Well, we did conceive, nurture and teach them so perhaps we should be thankful to each other for what they are today.

I'm thankful to have the opportunity to fulfill my passion of being a stay at home dad and pursue another of being an elementary school teacher.  But, I did work long and hard to get to this point.  And, I guess I should be thankful that my wife chose a profession where we could afford our decision to switch careers.  Oh, and how about being smart enough to buy a house in a lovely neighborhood that we can afford on one income...  and, lucky to have done so before last decade's housing boom?

Considering the damage so many suffered during last month's storm, we are thankful that we didn't even lose power.  Who knew that living two blocks from a substation has certain advantages?  We are indeed thankful we were able to provide family and friends warm meals, hot showers and a place for fun conversation.

So, while I am still unsure of where to start a list of things I am thankful for, I am truly appreciative of what we have.  Beyond the material things, I am most thankful for the experiences of being a dad, husband, brother, uncle, son-in-law, friend, neighbor, and teacher the most.  To me, the value of one's life is measured by those experiences and not by possessions or wealth.  

To my family and friends, you enrich my life and for that, I am thankful for you.