My Dad Works in Communications - Repost

My dad works in communications.

Ever since I can remember, he has always been busy.

During the day he goes to work and I go to school, but he never makes it home for dinner in the evening. Often he comes back late at night, and I am already asleep.

Occasionally he comes home a bit earlier, but he is either constantly on the phone or busy at the computer. Sometimes when I wake up in the middle of the night, I see him half-consciously still sitting in front of the computer.

Ever since I can remember, he is rarely at home.

He is always on business trips, often leaving without saying goodbye. Every time he drags his luggage and carries his precious laptop bag out the door, I always ask him tearfully: "Dad, will you be back for my birthday?"

He says, yes, I will be back, and I will bring you a teddy bear.

But he never keeps his word.

I don't want his teddy bear.

Other kids' dads take them out to play everywhere, but I just want him to have one more meal with me.

Last time he finally managed to have dinner with me and mom, I said to him in all seriousness: "Dad, sit still."

Because I was afraid he would slip away like a loach before finishing the meal, just like he always did.

I don't know if he was this busy before I can remember.

Every time I ask him about what I was like as a little kid, his answers never match what mom says.

Mom tells me about how I wobbled when I learned to walk, but that is not how he describes it.

The first time I scribbled and drew, he says it was on the wall, but mom says it was on the floor.

I didn't cry on my first day of kindergarten, but I cried on the second day.

...

I think he actually doesn't know anything about my childhood; he has heard it all from mom.

He must have missed many important moments of my growing up, and he just pretends to know everything.

But I don't blame him.

Mom says the whole world relies on him for phone calls and the Internet.

Without him, I wouldn't be able to video chat with him at night, or call him, or send him WeChat messages...

I am proud of him.

But I really wish he could be home every day when I come back from school.

Personal note: Now I am also a father, and I also work in communications. I think my child probably feels the same way. Reality is helpless. To make a living, I travel around, but I neglect my child's feelings. I will never let my child follow in my footsteps.