Fatherly Love That Goes Beyond Everything

My father prevented me from having any friends. He was possessive and severe. He would come chase the boy away and tell him not to approach me ever again if he caught me chatting to a boy. He would then caution me about talking to boys because he thought they may make me pregnant. My dad would follow me in the shadows when my mom sent me across the street to go buy things. I wouldn't find out until I stopped to speak with a male classmate and a man attempted to stop me.

I am the lastborn of his five children and the only girl. My dad overprotected me, and even my mom didn't like it. I went to school and found it difficult to relate to boys because of the way he brought me up. It was awful at university. I was not a boy. I avoided getting in the way of guys at all costs. Because I refused to kiss him, the only guy who even considered being my boyfriend broke up with me. I didn't want to, mind you. I had no idea how to proceed.

You would think that my dad would cease acting that way after graduating from college, but he didn't. He warned my close friend William to exercise caution if he had malicious intent. "I would come for you if you hurt my daughter." You're supposed to be aware."

William vanished over time. My dad remarked, "You think I'm doing too much, but look at who we have here," after my mom and he repeatedly argued. You think I'm a horrible parent and I'm a future lawyer?

When I met Amos after church during my first year of law school, I would return home for an unremembered reason. We were conversing in front of the church. I was unaware of all of that while my father watched us from inside the church. Amos, who was new here, said that he had never seen me in church before. I informed him that I had just returned home from school. He suggested I should give him my number since he wanted to learn more about me. My dad showed up right as I was entering my number into his phone.

I returned his phone to him after I had finished inputting the number. My father approached him and stood beside him, observing his face first, then mine. "Are you Mr. Amwaka's son?" he asked. Amos gave a nod. "What do you need my daughter's number for?" my dad went on.

I informed my dad that he was a friend who had misplaced my number and returned it to him when Joseph stared at my face in confusion. In response, my father said, "You're not even capable of lying." I know him better than you do because I know his father. "Delete her number if you don't feel good about her," he said, turning to Amos. But before you do anything improper, I'll speak with your father and call him as a witness.

When Joseph called, I was in class. My dad went to meet Joseph's father and informed him that we were dating, therefore he ought to testify. While he was laughing, I was furious. You need not worry," he said. The task was made simple by him. “What do you say?” “The two old guys know we are dating.

It wasn't until I was at ease with him that I responded. When my dad saw him at church, he would inquire how I was doing and when we had last spoken. On a few days, his father called to inquire about my academic progress. They were keeping an eye on us to make sure we succeeded, so we had no time to make mistakes. He proposed to me the day following my bar exam.

My dad informed me, "Now that my work is done, it doesn't mean I'll stop watching you," on the day of our wedding. Allow your background and origins to be reflected in your house and your marriage. You won't ever need to bring your belongings home if you do that.

He still gives my hubby a call. During their conversation, he asks him if I'm being a decent wife. His voice is filled with pride and joy when he speaks to me. The fact that none of his children are in unhappy marriages makes him feel as though he has realized a dream. It worked, so I don't think it's a bad thing, but I'm not sure if I'll treat my kids the same way he treated me.

—cindy

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