Date The Guy Who Reminds You Of Your Dad

My dad is quirky, nerdy and 12 at heart. But, I wouldn’t have it any other way. He has the goofiest smile, and his laugh is my favorite sound. He was the first man I loved, and for a long time, I thought he would be the only man I ever loved. I’m a Daddy’s girl and I always will be. Growing up, I idolized my father. He was the tallest and strongest man in the world. If he couldn’t fix it, it couldn’t be fixed. He was, and still is, my hero.

Now 21 years old, I still idolize my father, but I find myself loving another man—a man so eerily similar to my father. I often find myself telling my boyfriend “Ok Dad” or “You are SO much like my Father”. And while that may turn some boys off, it brings a wide smile to my boyfriend’s face.

He knows my dad is my hero, my ride or die, so for him to be on the same spectrum as the first, and last man I’ll love.

That’s a big deal.

I was single for a long time. Partially because I had awful taste in men, but mostly because from a young age, my dad showed me what a great man looks like. I always told myself that I would never settle for a boy, he had to treat me as well as my dad treats me.

My dad taught me what I am worth, what I deserve, and to never settle for anything less.

Although my boyfriend doesn’t have deep Caribbean kissed skin, or a goofy little gap in between his teeth he is still a spitting image of my father. His kindness, compassion and generosity rivals my dad’s. His laugh is now tied for my favorite sound. And, he treats me like the princess I grew up thinking I was. My father always told me I looked beautiful, even with bedhead and a bare face, he was constantly telling me I didn’t need makeup and that I was perfect the way I was.

And every time my boyfriend tells me I look beautiful, with bedhead and a barefaced I can’t help but grin from ear to ear.

My boyfriend may not be balding like my father but his intelligence, perseverance and drive is indistinguishable from my dad’s. I grew up learning that hard work will help you accomplish anything you set your mind to. Every day, my boyfriend inspires me to become a better person. His dedication to his studies, his aspirations and motivation, they all are helping me become a better person.

I had to go through a lot of toads to find my prince, and I never would have thought that to find him I just had to look closer to home.

When you date the boy who reminds you of your father you will feel like a queen. I have two of the most incredible men in the world on each hand, and together, they make me feel like I can do anything- a feeling every girl in the world deserves.