I got drafted to vote on a prom dress. I was told that my reaction to the dresses was not overly enthusiastic. Anyone who is a dad probably can identify with the reason why.

Troy Marshall 2, BEEF Contributing Editor

April 27, 2017

2 Min Read
Ever had one of those “Dad moments?”

As a dad, you occasionally have those moments with your kids that, while eliciting a certain amount of pride, also are tinged with sadness. Those moments seem to be coming more and more often as my children grow into adulthood. 

Like when I went to visit my oldest son at college recently. It’s hard to describe, but after he left home, I could see the changes in him, a new level of maturity. That impression was confirmed on my last visit; the boy who lived with us for 18 years was now a young man. It was one of those moments that you feel both a sense of pride and a little sadness because you know that something has passed and will never return. 

Well, it happened again last week. My daughter is a high school junior and I got drafted to vote on a prom dress. I was told that my reaction to the dresses was not overly enthusiastic. Anyone who has been a dad probably can identify with the reason why.  

She looked beautiful, stunning in fact, but she didn’t look like my little girl. Standing before me was a lovely young woman instead. The only dress I would have voted for was one that would have made me think of Shirley Temple.  

Don’t get me wrong; I want my kids to grow up and become successful adults. I’m proud of them. I wouldn’t ever want to stop the journey, but it seems they grow up a little faster than I would like. 

Related:Ranching isn’t all about business, it’s about raising a family too

Like most fathers, I’m sure I have done a lot of things wrong and would like a few hundred do-overs. But one of the things I know was a good decision was praying earnestly for my kids’ future spouses.

I hope I can be forgiven, but regardless of the prayers, there is no way any young man will ever be good enough for my daughter. Yet, I suspect it will be like these other moments, where the pride overwhelms the sadness and in the end, you are thankful that they have entered the next phase of their lives.

Yes, she looked beautiful. But I don’t have to be happy about it.

 

About the Author(s)

Troy Marshall 2

BEEF Contributing Editor

Troy Marshall is a multi-generational rancher who grew up in Wheatland, WY, and obtained an Equine Science/Animal Science degree from Colorado State University where he competed on both the livestock and World Champion Horse Judging teams. Following college, he worked as a market analyst for Cattle-Fax covering different regions of the country. Troy also worked as director of commercial marketing for two breed associations; these positions were some of the first to provide direct links tying breed associations to the commercial cow-calf industry.

A visionary with a great grasp for all segments of the industry, Troy is a regular opinion contributor to BEEF Cow-Calf Weekly. His columns are widely reprinted and provide in-depth reporting and commentary from the perspective of a producer who truly understands the economics and challenges of the different industry segments. He is also a partner/owner in Allied Genetic Resources, a company created to change the definition of customer service provided by the seedstock industry. Troy and his wife Lorna have three children. 

Subscribe to Our Newsletters
BEEF Magazine is the source for beef production, management and market news.

You May Also Like