A Tie That Binds

Today is Father's Day. It is the 28th one of my life. I have a daughter who made me a Dad back in 1980. Not surprisingly, my thoughts today revolve around this miracle who entered the world at 5:14 p.m. on a Friday afternoon in late July. In terms of life priorities, she was very much a game changer for me. And the truth be told, in many ways she remains so. If ever there are two people who are "joined at the hip" in life, it is a parent and child. Good times and bad, the two possess a bond that is ever lasting and unique to them. But as it with any other relationship, the bond is only as strong as how well they communicate.

When it comes to communication, there is nothing more fundamental than what occurs between two individuals. How well do they connect? Is the dialogue that goes on between them respectful, flowing and honest? Does genuine listening take place? Does the exchange lead the way to future exchanges? These basic questions are as equally applicable to the parent-child connection as they are to any other, including one between husband and wife, two friends and even two co-workers. People have feelings, perspectives and a need for inclusion, elements that must be part of the communication mix. For the connection between the two people to have firm roots, their efforts to communicate must be genuine. A lack of sincerity results in a weak foundation. As any builder can testify, anything with a weak foundation will not last.

This takes me back to Father's Day. Thankfully, the foundation between my daughter and I is strong. If it weren't, then the occasional bumps in our relationship that we have had over the years would have been a lot more significant than they were. This, in fact, is one important lesson my daughter has been teaching me for almost 29 years now. Nothing remains viable and strong without communication. Mistakes can occur. Misunderstandings can happen. But as long as efforts from both parties to keep the connection open continue, then the relationship will endure and even flourish. This is the great gift of communication. It is a tie that binds.