I’ve had a few people tell me I don’t look like a dad. I’m not really sure what that means. Should I have my children strapped to my person? A tattoo of my kids’ names on my neck? Should the dark circles under my eyes have their own circles?

What does a father look like?

I prefer to look at fatherhood as a lens than rather than a look or an age. Every dad cares for his children with his own style of love and ferocity. Some of the greatest, most engaged fathers I know look nothing alike. That’s the beauty of this joyous and jumbled experience.

Children can level a man. And they can also build him up to near invincibility.

But we all look a little tired. I’ll give you that. At least I do.

Today, I mourn for those without fathers and those who’ve lost children.

-charlie