My Father’s Day started out the same way every other day does.

My daughter Patricia ran into my room and jumped on my wife and I.

Trying to fake like I was asleep, I couldn’t keep from laughing as she played like she was a monster.

It wasn’t long ago that I was a child, and wanted nothing more than to spend time with my dad. There was only one problem.

My dad wasn’t there.

So, on Father’s Day, we would spend the day with my mom and my grandmother. She was mother and father for eight very long years of my life. While other young boys were being taught how to throw a baseball, or put a perfect spiral on a football, I was being taught these things by a woman.

Ironic, isn’t it? While most people associate girls with throwing soft, my mom taught me how to throw a baseball harder than most kids with a dad at my age. Everything I needed to know in my life — a woman taught me how to do it.

This experience in my life made me want to spend time with my child, whenever I can, doing just anything she wants.

Many of us sit around and watch sports on the weekends.

I am guilty of this myself; we should be out doing what we can with our children.

I have found that the greatest present I get not only on Father’s Day, but Christmas, and my birthday is just simply a smile from Patricia.

It doesn’t take money, cars, or expensive clothes to make children happy.

It just takes time and understanding.

While many of us are involved in our children’s athletic lives, just take time to be a dad when you aren’t at the field, and the results will show up on the field.

And even if they don’t, that’s all right, too.

As long as they take something away from the experience.

After all, there is no better feeling in the world — not a home run, goal, medal or trophy that can top, “I love you, Daddy.”

Contact sports reporter Travis Anderson at 997-3111 ext. 44, or via e-mail at tanderson@yourdailyjournal.com