She Impresses Dad Most with the Way She Carries Herself
By Scott Beller
Daddying Editor and Associate Director, Daddying Film Festival & Forum (D3F)
Nineteen years ago, I carried her everywhere. All seven pounds, seven ounces, and 19.5 inches of her. Fed, burped, diapered, cleaned, and swaddled. And in between, we would carry her. She needed us, me and her Mom, for everything.
And we needed her too.
This cuddly little cherub. We wanted to hold her, gaze at her, breathe her in. These things that never exhaust us as parents. An insatiable, perpetual love feedback loop.
And as the weeks and months went by, we guided our first baby through the world, showing her all the things and giving her all the opportunities we could. She discovered and puzzled and learned and struggled and laughed and danced and cried and grew. So did we, right along with her.
This precious gift of a child energized us and brought us more joy each day than I could ever imagine let alone describe. Being home throughout her childhood creating everlasting bonds with her and her sister transformed me in the best of ways. She made me the Dad I was meant to be.
Morgan rushed from preschool through high school in a microsecond, and I was lucky to have witnessed most of it first-hand. Trying to be present and supportive without disrupting, I blinked, and she was on her way to college, where I assumed she'd pursue something artistic, musical, creative. Maybe even continue rowing. But she had other goals and priorities. Now she's exactly where she wants to be, doing exactly what she wants to do, and has been thriving.
She's riding a pre-med track as a neuroscience-biology double-major and has been thriving. While we've encouraged her along the way, we've mostly followed her lead, trusting her to make the right decisions about where she wants to go, personally, academically, and professionally.
This semester, she's in organic chemistry and physics and molecular biology. And I am in awe.
My parenting approach has been to be there for the kids when they truly need me, then hang back and let them do their thing. So far, seems to be working out just fine.
My daughter won't be home on her 19th birthday, which is this Monday, but will be next month. For now, she's on her own (with LOTS of friends). She stays connected with us only by occasional texts and FaceTime, most recently to give us the virtual tour of her new dorm setup, complete with the rug I sent her as an early birthday gift.
She returns home in a few weeks for Fall break. I'll pick her up at the airport, eagerly and exuberantly as always. When I do, I'll be the one thinking I never want her to leave, much like she used to think when her Mom and I would for our anniversary trips. Minus the written decree, of course, but with just as many tears.
I know she will leave again because she must. There's so much more for her to explore and learn and achieve. But when she does, wherever she goes, she'll be carrying a big piece of my heart with her. And also her cell phone, where my emoji-filled texts await her prompt response.
Daddy on.
First beach trip, July 2008
Happy birthday, Morgan! Wish you were here. I love you and so proud to be your Dad.
Submissions from 70 countries and counting!
Daddying Film Festival & Forum (D3F)
The Daddying Film Festival & Forum (D3F) 2027 Call for Entries keeps rolling through the summer long on FilmFreeway! Students (3rd grade-undergrad), Dads, Granddads, Moms, Grandmoms, dad figures, Parenting Podcasters, Musicians, and indie filmmakers can submit films, videos, and podcast episodes through November 23, 2026!
Early-bird discount entry deadline is FRIDAY, October 2nd.
Since 2022, we've received submissions from 70 (!!) countries and we're excited to present another amazing collection of the best daddying stories submitted by students, Dads/dad figs, Moms, and indie filmmakers from around the world! Check the D3F website or our FilmFreeway page for submission details and to be inspired by Atticus Award-winning and finalist films from previous years!
SAVE THE DATES: The 6th annual, virtual Daddying Film Festival will take place on Eventive, January 11-20, 2027, and our LIVE Daddying Film Forum, at American University in Washington, DC, will screen select Atticus Award winners and finalists, January 29-30, 2027.
Scott Beller is the proud, imperfect crew Dad and occasional chauffeur of two teen, mighty girls, imperfect partner of their rock-star regatta mom, a truth teller, purveyor of banned books, former youth soccer coach, championship basketball coach, retired part-time driving instructor, late-night filmgoer, Editor of the Daddying blog, Director of Communications for DCG, and Associate Director of the Daddying Film Festival & Forum (D3F). He's a seasoned writer and PR agency veteran with more than 35 years of experience helping organizations of all sizes and individuals reach audiences and tell their stories. Prior to launching his own creative communications consultancy in 2003, he led PR teams with some of the world’s most respected agencies, including The Weber Group and Fleishman-Hillard. As a consultant, he’s helped launch two other parenting advocacy nonprofits with DCG founder Allan Shedlin, REEL Fathers and Dads Unlimited. His first book, Beggars or Angels, was a ghostwritten memoir for the nonprofit Devotion to Children's founder Rosemary Tran Lauer. He is formerly known as "Imperfect Dad" and Head Writer/Editor for the Raising Nerd blog, which supports parents in inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and creative problem solvers. He earned his BA in Communications from VA Tech so many years ago. You can follow him and his frequently salty language on Instagram and BlueSky.
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