80 Comments
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E2's avatar

Man + dad here. Besides the parts everyone has mentioned, I commend your father for "You made a promise. I’ll help you keep it."

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Caroline's avatar

Yes! Your word is everything!!

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Wendy Varley's avatar

What a gorgeous tribute to your dad and the other men in your life who are unafraid to wear their hearts on their sleeve. Beautiful.

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Caroline's avatar

Thank you so much, Wendy! He’s already called twice — crying after reading it 🥹❤️

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Wendy Varley's avatar

Oh, I love that. What a total treasure.

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Nida Elley's avatar

“He’s the embodiment of a profound truth: the most captivating individuals are those who dare to reveal their full humanity.” I loved this Caroline, all of it! I can’t imagine what it must have been like to have such amazing examples of balanced and compassionate masculinity in your life. My father is extremely empathetic, but that’s a rarity in my culture. Working at a boys’ school in Pakistan, I have the desire to impart this lesson to my students, too - not to shy away from their emotions or humanity. It feels like an uphill battle these days with the messaging that comes from culture and society. There’s nothing like real role models to look up to. I’m so delighted you had that. Thank you for sharing these glimpses of your family, so beautifully visualized.❤️

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Caroline's avatar

How lucky are we to have our fathers?! And it’s so beautiful how you want to pass that along to the students. I have no doubt that they will learn from your example 🤍

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Isabel Cowles Murphy's avatar

I'm not crying, he's crying! Wait. Yes I am. I just love watching your whole family blossom because of your Substack. What an incredible journey to witness. Thank you Argraves.

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Caroline's avatar

Him 20 minutes ago— “I’m not crying.” As he actively sobbed into the phone. Thank you for being such an amazing witness 🥹🥹🥹

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

Today’s reading has involved many reports of misogyny, I’m so glad I just got to this. It helped my heart to read it. I wish your dad had a TED talk about being an emotionally comfortable man ❤️

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Caroline's avatar

Yes…I can’t stop reading about that trial in France.

He is usually a bright spot amongst all the bullshit. And I hate to tell you that he’d thrive in front of an audience 🤣

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Same so soothing

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Katherine Moore's avatar

I love your dad! Happy birthday to him! Neither of my parents showed much emotion growing up. They considered it a strength. Imagine their frustration with me, the daughter who cried over anything!

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Caroline's avatar

Aww thank you!! My biggest frustration is that I cry when I’m mad and that so easily gets misinterpreted…

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Katherine Moore's avatar

Me too! At 60 I have learned to hold myself together when I’m angry Or upset….only to cry later. Tears are cleansing for me.

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appleton king's avatar

between your Dad and Mark Nepo there aint no way a girl like you could go wrong 😉😚🤗

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appleton king's avatar

will do but i dont get around much anymore (thats a song!)

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Caroline's avatar

That’s right. Be sure to tell everyone that I’m perfect!

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Faye Boam's avatar

Gosh this is beautiful, and, appropriately, made me cry. How lucky we are to have men in our lives who dare to embrace their tenderness. I always thought it would be the other way around, but it has been the men in my life who taught me it's safe to feel.

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Caroline's avatar

Yes ma’am!! We’re fighting back against all the times we were told that women are “too emotional” and “weak!” We’re powerful, especially when we cry!

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Faye Boam's avatar

Powerful, indeed. I'm pretty sure crying is in my top 3 favorite feelings.

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Kaitlyn Elizabeth's avatar

Weeeeeeeping. 😭😭😭

So glad you buckled and let the September baby have his day in the sun. What a beautiful, tender soul. I feel like I can see how having a dad like that made space for how you write, see the world and yourself.

Also that picture of him looks alarming like my son. This feels like a good omen ❤️

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Caroline's avatar

Ahh it’s the cutest picture!! He looks the same now…just darker, grayish hair!

But I’ll have you know that he will stalk these comments again tonight and be totally delighted by this 🤍

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Kaitlyn Elizabeth's avatar

Hi dad!!!!!

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

I absolutely loved reading this. I have been working with men and healing retreats. I have one man who had never cried, and he couldn’t make eye contact now he comes back to Retreat every year and cries the whole time it’s awesome. Who was almost almost 50 years old.

For me, it felt like it was filling in huge mist experiences of not being around men who had permission to feel all of it

I love your father. Tell him happy birthday. You are indeed very lucky.

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Caroline's avatar

Oh my! I love that so much. We all deserve to feel fully!

Thank you, deeply. I will!!

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Edwin Ngetich's avatar

"the most captivating individuals are those who dare to reveal their full humanity." When you're human at full-scale, you connect emotionally

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Caroline's avatar

Human at full-scale. I love that!!

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Emily's avatar

That picture (your dad's face - pure sweetness) and your words are everything. Thank you.

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Caroline's avatar

Oh my goodness, thank you 😊

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Amy Roberts's avatar

Your dad sounds like a champ. Glad to have read about him.

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Caroline's avatar

Thank you!!

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Stuart Pennebaker's avatar

Oh my goodness, this was beautiful

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Caroline's avatar

Thank you 🙏 😊

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tenterhooks's avatar

I needed another BIG CRY today - thank you for providing the space for that, beautiful tribute! 🤍

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Caroline's avatar

Let it out!! Thanks so much 😊

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Dia Lupo's avatar

Quite literally one of the most beautiful things I’ve read in a while. I seriously love your dad and I haven’t even met him. What a GUY ❤️

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Caroline's avatar

Thank you 🥹

He’s probably gone to your page and read all your pieces and cried too lol

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