People always assume I’m gone more than I’m home. The uniform does that—makes folks think I live in tents or helicopters. Truth is, yeah, I’ve missed birthdays, a few Christmases too. But when I’m here? I show up.
Every morning, I’m the one waking up Calvin. I knock on his door with the same dumb dad joke—“Rise and shine, Private!” He groans like it’s the end of the world, but I catch that little smirk he tries to hide.
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We do breakfast together. Nothing fancy—usually eggs and whatever fruit isn’t mush. He talks about school, and I pretend to understand his teenager stuff. I know he’s too polite to say it, but I think he likes that I try.
Sometimes I drop him off if I can swing it, just a quick drive and a fist bump. Other days we take a selfie on the porch, just so I have it. I save every single one in a folder called Missions That Matter.
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Folks at the base give me crap for being “soft” with him. I don’t care. They didn’t see how quiet he got the year I was deployed. They didn’t hear the way he asked if I’d miss his school play—like he already knew the answer.
So now, I make sure to be here. I may not always be physically present, but when I am, I am fully invested. Every moment counts.
Lately, I’ve noticed a change in Calvin. He’s growing up faster than I ever expected. The days when I was his superhero—the guy who could fix anything with duct tape and a screwdriver—are starting to fade. He’s turning into someone who’s figuring things out on his own, and that’s a good thing, but it’s also a little bittersweet.
One morning, a few weeks ago, I woke up earlier than usual. The sun wasn’t even up yet, but I couldn’t sleep. The house was still quiet, so I went to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. As I sat there, staring out the window, my phone buzzed. It was a message from the base—something urgent had come up, and I might be needed for a deployment sooner than I thought.
I stared at the screen, feeling the weight of the decision I had to make. I’d been avoiding this, hoping I’d get more time with Calvin. But the truth was, duty called. There were people depending on me.
Just then, Calvin walked into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes. He didn’t notice the text at first, but when he saw me, he gave me that same tired grin.
“Rise and shine, Private!” I said, trying to keep it light.
He groaned, playing along, and I couldn’t help but smile. It was just a stupid little joke, but it always worked.
We sat down to breakfast, like we always did. The kitchen was quiet except for the sounds of forks scraping against plates. Calvin started telling me about his math test, how he was pretty sure he’d nailed it, but there was one question that confused him. He mentioned his friends, his new video game, and I caught myself listening more closely than I had in a while. He was growing up, and I didn’t want to miss these little moments.
But deep down, I knew. The phone was still sitting on the counter, buzzing every now and then, a reminder that I couldn’t put it off forever.
“Hey, Cal, I gotta ask you something,” I said, clearing my throat. “There’s a chance I might be going away again. You know, work stuff.”
He paused, looking at me for a second. “How long this time?” he asked, his voice surprisingly calm.
I could see the way he was trying to act cool about it, but I knew he was bracing for what came next.
“I’m not sure. Maybe a few months. You know the drill.”
Calvin didn’t say anything at first. He just nodded, pushing his eggs around on his plate. Then he looked up at me, his eyes softer than usual.
“You’ll come back, right? I mean, you always do.”
I swallowed hard. It wasn’t a question, not really. He didn’t want to hear about the possibility that maybe, just maybe, I wouldn’t.
“Yeah, buddy,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “I always come back.”
After breakfast, I dropped him off at school. We didn’t talk much on the drive, but we didn’t need to. As he got out of the car, he turned back to me and gave me a quick wave. I smiled and waved back, watching him walk into the school.
I don’t know how long I sat there, just staring at the school gates. I felt like time was slipping through my fingers, and I was powerless to stop it.
The next day, I got the confirmation. I was being deployed sooner than expected. As much as I hated to admit it, I knew this was part of the job. But knowing that didn’t make it any easier.
I packed my things and said goodbye to the house. As I was about to leave, I found Calvin’s backpack sitting by the door. He must have forgotten it in the rush this morning. I grabbed it, intending to drop it off at school on my way out.
But when I opened the bag to check for his school ID, I found something else. Something unexpected.
A letter. It wasn’t addressed to anyone, but it was written in Calvin’s handwriting. I sat down on the couch, opened it, and began to read.
“Dad, I know you’re leaving again. I don’t want you to go, but I understand why you have to. I want you to know that I’m proud of you, even though you’re not always here. I don’t say it enough, but I love you. Please come back safe. And don’t forget about me, okay? I’ll be okay. Love, Calvin.”
I sat there for a while, the letter still in my hands. It was the most honest thing he’d ever said to me. The quiet bravery in those words hit me harder than anything. He didn’t want me to go, but he understood. He knew what I had to do, and he still loved me through it all.
That night, I made a decision. I called my commanding officer and told him I needed to stay behind, just a little longer. I explained what had happened, and he understood. The mission could wait. Calvin needed me more than anything.
The next morning, I didn’t wake up early for the usual routine. Instead, I went to Calvin’s room and knocked softly on his door.
“Rise and shine, Private,” I said, my voice full of warmth.
Calvin groggily opened his eyes and smiled, that same half-hearted grin he always gave me. But this time, it was different. He knew. And for the first time in a while, I felt like I had made the right decision.
We had breakfast together. We didn’t talk much about the deployment anymore. There was no need. I knew what I had to do, and I knew I wasn’t just showing up for him—I was showing up for myself, too.
The deployment would come eventually, but not today. Today, I was home, and that was enough.
In the days that followed, I found myself savoring the moments. I wasn’t just going through the motions anymore. I was truly present, watching Calvin grow, listening to his thoughts, and being the dad I always wanted to be. Even if I couldn’t be there all the time, I was making the time I had count.
And when the day came for me to leave, I saw a change in Calvin. He wasn’t as sad as he used to be. Instead, he was proud. He understood why I had to go, but more importantly, he knew I’d always come back. And I would—because no matter where my job took me, being his dad would always be my number one mission.
Life is unpredictable, and sometimes, the things we think are most important—work, success, accolades—can’t compare to the people we love. If I’ve learned anything from my time away and the precious moments I get with Calvin, it’s that family is everything. And if you’re lucky enough to have the time, make it count.
Share this story if it resonates with you. Let’s remind each other that even in the busiest moments, it’s the time we spend with the people we love that truly matters.
