461 words · about 3 minutesFor Charles & Matthew
Charles and Matthew,
I want you both to know where I was.
Charles, right now you’re almost two. Your birthday is November 22nd, and I’m counting down to it the way I count every day until I see you both again. Matthew, you’re in every one of those days too. There isn’t a morning I wake up without thinking about the two of you.
The truth
Your mother kept us apart. That is the reason we weren’t together, and I’m telling you plainly because you deserve the truth from me instead of guessing.
It was never my choice. Not once. Every day we were separated, I was here, waiting, asking, trying, hoping that would be the day.
I’m writing this down now, with today’s date on it, so that someday you’ll have it in my own words, from the time it was happening. Not a story someone told you later. The truth, from me, as I was living it.
What I want you to know
- I never stopped trying.Share line
- I never stopped asking.Share line
- I never stopped loving you.Share line
Not for a single day. Whatever you were told, whatever you remember or don’t remember, your dad was here the whole time, with the door open.
What I want to teach you
Lukas Graham sings about the records his dad played him and the lessons his dad taught him without either of them noticing. I have records I want to play you. And I have things I want to teach you that you won’t even notice you’re learning:
- How to work hard and build something that's yours.
- How to keep going when it's hard, and it will be sometimes.
- How to stand up for what's true, even when it costs you.
- How to love someone even when you can't be next to them.
That last one I’ve had to learn the hard way, because of you two. You’re worth it.
Brothers
Look out for each other.
You’re brothers, and nobody can take that from you. Whatever happens, you will always have each other, and you will always have me.
Everything I’m building, I’m building with your names on it. Someday I want to walk you through all of it and hand it to you.
Whenever you read this
I don’t know how old you’ll be when you read this. Maybe you’re grown. Maybe you’ve got kids of your own and you’re wondering what to tell them about your dad. If so, tell them this: he was waiting for us. He never gave up.
You were always welcome here, and you always will be. This is your home, and I’m still here.
I love you both, more than anything.
Dad
Scan to hear the song and read this onlinestephendthomas.com/happy-home · Written November 1, 2026