Lucas,
When the campaign days get long and tiring, one of the things that keeps me going is the time I get to spend with my family.
Kathy and I are so grateful to have four wonderful children -- one in the Army National Guard, one at Colorado State, one at West Point, and one entering his high school senior year in Plattsburgh.
Kathy, me, our daughter Kate, our sons Will, Henry, and Ryan, and our two dogs, Gino and Tucker.
Like many of you, Kathy and I know firsthand the difficulty of juggling work while raising a family. After 14 years in the active Army, I decided to put family first and become a stay-at-home dad for our four children under the age of six, while Kathy continued to serve in the Army. Suddenly, I went from training soldiers to changing diapers. It gave me an irreplaceable bond with my kids, one that I hold dear to this very day.
It warms my heart to see the young adults they've become, driven by values like commitment and personal responsibility. Our time spent together is invaluable -- we cook and eat together, arrange late-afternoon bike rides, walk with the dogs, and sometimes (if I'm lucky) they even accompany me on the campaign trail. Like those Kathy and I served with in the Army, our kids have learned that we, together, are stronger as a unit, a team, a family.
From our family to yours, Happy Father's Day.
Mike Derrick