Since 17 June 2024, I have sent my daughter a video every week, so she can both hear me and see me for a moment when she wants to see me, as I share words, thoughts and feelings with her. I started them while I was away from her. I am back and closer now, and the videos still go to her every week.
The videos are for her. This page shares them, how they started, what they hold, and why I keep making them.
On this page:
- The Videos
- How It Started
- Every Day and Every Week
- What the Videos Hold
- Back and Closer, and Still Every Week
- Questions and Answers
The Videos
I post them to one playlist, Daddy Daughter videos, on my YouTube channel Daddy Daughter Weekly Videos. The gallery below lists every video in the playlist, newest first, and plays them here.
The videos also sit on the Daddy Daughter Weekly Videos channel on YouTube.
How It Started
On 17 June 2024 the first video went up: “A video for you, O.” I was away from her, and I told her I would keep making them, even on the days she did not feel like watching.
“I want them to be there for you, because maybe it’s not something you want to watch today or look at today, but maybe tomorrow, next week, next month, maybe there’ll be a time when you just kind of want to go through a whole bunch of them, and they’ll be there for you, just like I’m there for you.”
From video 001, A video for you, O.
In the third one I told her about our walks, and what I do when I miss them.
“Sometimes when I’m out on my morning walks, I close my eyes, I reach out my hand and I pretend I’m holding your hand and walking with you and talking with you.”
From video 003, I miss our walks
Every Day and Every Week
The videos are one of four ways I have kept us connected: a picture every day, an audio every week, a video every week, and, since 4 May 2026, a song every day. Before a meeting, before the calls, before anything else in the day, the picture gets made.
“Once a week I know I need to make one of those audios and I need to make a video. And I know you’re not telling me I need to, but I need to, for me and for you, to show you that every day I’m thinking about you.”
From video 034, You always come first. Everyday.
I keep every one of them for her, the videos, the audios and the pictures, so they are all there whenever she wants them. It is a promise I made, and it is something I love to do.
What the Videos Hold
Some are the everyday. I ask about her summer at camp. I talk her through her first flight from far away. I walk her through a doll museum because it made me think of her the moment I walked in, and I show her Zion National Park, a place I want to take her.
Some are the two of us finding ways to be together from far apart: a Valentine’s Day meal shared over FaceTime, blueberry muffins eaten at the same moment on a count of one, two, three, picking out outfits together, and a beard I grow because she decides how long it gets.
When people ask me how long I am growing it, this is my answer.
“I don’t know. I’m not in charge. That’s my daughter.”
From video 074, Growing out the beard and hair for you is fun
Some are things we are making together: our first Add It to the Book or Kick It to the Curb recipe, and the full affirmation list, in a video she can play back and read back.
Some are about how to carry yourself: mad, glad, sad or scared; the two wolves; forgiveness as a gift for yourself as much as for others; small steps; giving yourself grace; standing your ground with honor, respect and love. And one is an apology, because I am not perfect either, and I hold myself accountable to her.
Not every call is long, and every one counts, down to a seven second goodnight.
“Whether it’s 20 seconds or 20 minutes, it means so much to me.”
From video 049, Sharing anything or nothing I love just connecting
Back and Closer, and Still Every Week
Many of the early videos were made far from her. I am back and closer now, and the videos have not stopped. A new one still goes to her every week. In one of the newest, I thanked her for her patience with the plans we had to put off.
“The promises were never lies. They just had to be delayed. And now they’re happening, all of them.”
From video 116, Making every promise true with patience
Questions and Answers
Why a video every week?
So she can both hear me and see me for a moment when she wants to see me, as I share words, thoughts and feelings with her. It is a promise I made, and it is something I love to do.
When did the videos start?
On 17 June 2024, with “A video for you, O.” I was away from her then.
Do the videos continue now?
Yes. I am back and closer now, and a new video still goes to her every week.
What are the videos about?
Everyday life, plans we make and keep, things we are making together, and how to carry yourself, from forgiveness and small steps to standing your ground with honor, respect and love.
How do the videos fit with the songs, the audios and the pictures?
They are one of four ways I stay connected with her: a picture every day on Dadau Graphics, an audio every week on Dadau Audios, a video every week, and a song every day on the Dadau Playlist.
Where can the videos be watched?
In the gallery on this page, or on the YouTube channel Daddy Daughter Weekly Videos.
The Other Ways
All four are on the Dadau page. The other three:
- Dadau Graphics, a graphic a day, with the mosaics and the film.
- Dadau Playlist, a song a day, with the live Spotify player.
- Dadau Audios, an audio a week, with the live Spotify player.