This is the kid I used to wheel around the city in a stroller to parks on my day off, and when she was in kindergarden used to take the bus with me down to the zoo and the museum and the botanic gardens for a shared day of fun and exploration.

When she was six and trying to learn to ride a bike, I would run along side of her and hold on to the back of the bike, allowing her to learn how to balance and control the bike with the security of my hand holding her steady. Occasionally she would look back to make sure I had not removed my hand, then keep on going. When she had the confidence to ride by herself we took two bikes and would ride for miles and miles.

On our first vacation to Yellowstone I read all I could find about Yellowstone, and told her about everything I learned before our visit. She knew all about geyser's and fumaroles and mudpots and boiling hot springs, and like me was excited about visiting this big magical place full of wonders. Neither of us was disappointed. I remember sitting on a bench next to her, holding her infant sister, watching Old Faithful erupt for our first time.

It is not hard being a parent when children are young and cute and eager to learn. It is more of a challenge when as teenagers they become smarter than their 's___ for brains' Dad. Being a parent of a teenager involves a good share of hanging in there when the going gets tough, somewhat like the animals and birds I see toughing out Colorado winter blizzards. Grit your teeth and endure and eventually clear blue skies and pleasant weather will return on the other side.

I would not overly praise her during her school years, but instead tried to teach her that she should be self motivated and proud of herself for her accomplishments. She should feel intense pride and happiness for the way she spent her high school years: studying hard, earning All A's all four years, in difficult classes like physics, biology, trigonometry, geometry, and calculus. She spent much of her free time working at the good job she landed. When not working she attended 4H meetings, or rode her Mom's horse. Every wednesday she volunteered at the hospital.

The going will not always be easy for her in the years ahead. She may have to make her share of mistakes and tough out things on her own until the weather clears. I am confident she will handle it all well, with a brave heart, as I saw her do when she was learning to ride her bike, when she was hiking with me on the scary narrow trail to Osprey falls in Yellowstone, at 11 when she was in serious condition at Children's Hospital after a ruptured appendix.

I was proud of her during those times. And now, as she leaves home and high school to start college in the fall, as she enters into adulthood, I realize my job in holding her steady as she learns is pretty much over. I am very proud of my daughter for what she has accomplished and the person she has become, as proud as a Dad could be.