Editor’s note: Our bloggers often share their tips for parenting and keeping children well. Today’s post is a little different. Blogger Carlos Whittaker writes a touching post about the responsibility he feels toward his son’s biological father in Korea and his promise to do a good job being the young man’s dad. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

When I was messing with your hair that day, right after this picture was taken, my heart took a left when I figured it would have taken a right.
To the right would have been throwing you on the sofa and tickling you until you fart.
To the left was that place I accidentally stumble into every few months.
That place that looks, tastes, smells, and feels funny.
The last few strokes of your hair I imagined your father’s hair.
It must feel similar to this.
It must be light and wispy.
I wonder, right now, if his fingers are running through his hair.
But he’s probably wearing a hat.
I wonder if his hands smell like the fish that he has been catching all day.
I hope they do, or his day wouldn’t have been good.
I wonder if they are more calloused than they were a year ago.
I’m sure those nets are a pain.
I wonder if when he looks at his hands…he wonders about yours.

And so I walked outside, looked up to the sky, and screamed… “He’s OK!!!!”

When I walked back into the house I had this romantic thought that maybe…

Right before I looked up…

He got off his fishing boat…

Looked up…

And screamed

? ??? ???!
(Is my son OK?!)

Then I looked at the clock and realized it was 2 am in Seoul.
I got sad for a second…that my dream was a joke…
Until I realized…
He was probably dreaming of you.
Laying on his wispy hair.

I’m doing the best I can sir…

Promise.
Los