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A part of me feels like I was always meant to be a dad. It feels like such a natural role to play. I protect people in my life and try to do whatever I can to make them happy.

We can play armchair psychologist all day and pick apart the reasons for it, but that’s not the point right now. The point is that caring for my kids has always been more than a job for me. It’s a pleasure.

Actually, it’s more than that. It’s a need. Feeling important in the lives of the people around me is important. It makes me feel good about myself and the positive things I’m contributing to the world. Much like writing these blogs, taking care of those I love gives me a feeling of purpose and satisfaction that’s hard to explain.

The ones who benefit the most from this are my children. Regardless of why I do it or whether it’s part of some deeper meaning doesn’t matter. All that matters is that it pushes me to be everything they need and work to make their lives better.

Every cent I earn is for the betterment of my family. Every achievement I reach for and risk I take is done with them weighed in my mind. They keep my nose to the grindstone and my hands out of the fire. It’s all about them.

Before they were born, I made them both promises. Nothing my kids could ever do would make me stop working for them, fighting for them, or loving them. They are both a part of me and I’m one of the two people who brought them into the world. It’s my responsibility to be there in every way I can.

When Olivia was born, she was one of my greatest masterpieces. An amazing infant who has grown into a beautiful and smart young woman, my daughter is perfect.

When Lucas was born, he was the other half of my masterpiece collection. A wonderful boy who has grown into a strong, kind, and loving young man. He is also non-verbal with autism.

And he too is perfect.

If you think that being non-verbal with autism doesn’t make you “perfect” then your view of perfect is all wrong. Perfect doesn’t mean without struggles or challenges. If that’s the case, then no one on this planet is perfect.

To some people, that’s the end of it. They say that nobody’s perfect. And that’s fine. They can think that. I don’t.

To me, perfect is a case-to-case basis and it depends on the expectations of the person making the observation. To someone outside our home, Lucas’s “disability” might make him less than perfect. However, to me and his loved ones, it doesn’t. To me, he’s perfect.

Lucas’s perfection, just like his sister’s, comes down to who he is in his soul. He doesn’t need to sing songs with me or read books. He needs to be true to himself and kind to those around him. He’s all those things. Even with severe autism, which can sometimes cause him to misunderstand situations, he still treats people with the kindness and respect I’ve always hoped for.

Think about it. His lack of verbal communication isn’t limited to the words that come, or don’t come, from his mouth. It also plays into receptive language. There have been countless times that my son has found himself unsure if he’s being understood.

Imagine being hungry, unable to get your own food, and not knowing if those around you can comprehend what you want? I’d go crazy. I would. I have a million words in my arsenal and still find myself on the cusp of losing it when someone is talking me in circles over something they don’t understand. If I was him, it would be nonstop Tasmanian Devil duty.

That’s not to say that he hasn’t had tantrums or meltdowns. However, given the number of times he would be justified in having them versus the times he actually does, I’d say this kid deserves a round of applause.

Seriously. He’s pushed harder every year to become more and more mature. He does it without pep talks or anecdotes. I’ve never given him a lecture about “how big boys act,” and even if I did, I’m not sure he’d fully understand it.

But he doesn’t have to. Do you want to know why? Because he already knows. He knows it in his heart and he feels it in his soul. He’s my boy and the way he carries himself tells the world that he’s truly one of the most wonderful people you’ll ever meet.

That’s what makes him my son. That’s what makes him Lucas. That’s what makes him perfect.