r of 4 nowadays, I can now imagine how he felt...)

As soon as we finished the meal, he took his old bicycle and told me with a big smile in his face:

- My boy, get on! I'm gonna take you to school today.

Wow! Daddy's company at anytime is something most boys are very proud of. I wasn't an exception.

So we went d

Love is one of the greatest feelings one can have in life.

Though it may be quite difficult to define it properly, whenever you feel affection to or from someone, you instantly know you're involved in her arms. (Don't you think love is like a careful and kind mother?)

Being raised in a family where emotions were not easily demonstrated in an open way, it used to be hard for me to even kiss or hug my own parents... especially on holidays.

My father was born and raised in a Brazilian state where boys are told 'brave men never cry' - every time they show their emotions. I believe that's why he was passing the tradition on.

But for one very simple and courageous act he changed my way of dealing with it. His courage planted the seeds of a better life, as it set me free to express my feelings to my own children in a regular basis. Here is how it all began...

In my teens, I used to study in the afternoon - from 1 to 5. Our school was about 30 minutes away from home, and we had to cross the city by bus.

Once at lunchtime, I asked dad if he could give me some money to buy a snack in the middle of the afternoon. By his concerned expression I knew he couldn't.

We started eating along with my mom and brother - silently - while he was looking for a solution to such embarrassing situation. (As a father of 4 nowadays, I can now imagine how he felt...)

As soon as we finished the meal, he took his old bicycle and told me with a big smile in his face:

- My boy, get on! I'm gonna take you to school today.

Wow! Daddy's company at anytime is something most boys are very proud of. I wasn't an exception.

So we went do

demonstrated in an open way, it used to be hard for me to even kiss or hug my own parents... especially on holidays.

My father was born and raised in a Brazilian state where boys are told 'brave men never cry' - every time they show their emotions. I believe that's why he was passing the tradition on.

But for one very simple and courageous act he changed my way of dealing with it. His courage planted the seeds of a better life, as it set me free to express my feelings to my own children in a regular basis. Here is how it all began...

In my teens, I used to study in the afternoon - from 1 to 5. Our school was about 30 minutes away from home, and we had to cross the city by bus.

Once at lunchtime, I asked dad if he could give me some money to buy a snack in the middle of the afternoon. By his concerned expression I knew he couldn't.

We started eating along with my mom and brother - silently - while he was looking for a solution to such embarrassing situation. (As a father of 4 nowadays, I can now imagine how he felt...)

As soon as we finished the meal, he took his old bicycle and told me with a big smile in his face:

- My boy, get on! I'm gonna take you to school today.

Wow! Daddy's company at anytime is something most boys are very proud of. I wasn't an exception.

So we went d

and courageous act he changed my way of dealing with it. His courage planted the seeds of a better life, as it set me free to express my feelings to my own children in a regular basis. Here is how it all began...

In my teens, I used to study in the afternoon - from 1 to 5. Our school was about 30 minutes away from home, and we had to cross the city by bus.

Once at lunchtime, I asked dad if he could give me some money to buy a snack in the middle of the afternoon. By his concerned expression I knew he couldn't.

We started eating along with my mom and brother - silently - while he was looking for a solution to such embarrassing situation. (As a father of 4 nowadays, I can now imagine how he felt...)

As soon as we finished the meal, he took his old bicycle and told me with a big smile in his face:

- My boy, get on! I'm gonna take you to school today.

Wow! Daddy's company at anytime is something most boys are very proud of. I wasn't an exception.

So we went d

ad to cross the city by bus.

Once at lunchtime, I asked dad if he could give me some money to buy a snack in the middle of the afternoon. By his concerned expression I knew he couldn't.

We started eating along with my mom and brother - silently - while he was looking for a solution to such embarrassing situation. (As a father of 4 nowadays, I can now imagine how he felt...)

As soon as we finished the meal, he took his old bicycle and told me with a big smile in his face:

- My boy, get on! I'm gonna take you to school today.

Wow! Daddy's company at anytime is something most boys are very proud of. I wasn't an exception.

So we went d

r of 4 nowadays, I can now imagine how he felt...)

As soon as we finished the meal, he took his old bicycle and told me with a big smile in his face:

- My boy, get on! I'm gonna take you to school today.

Wow! Daddy's company at anytime is something most boys are very proud of. I wasn't an exception.

So we went down the road, talking about the sight, feeling the breeze in our faces... just sharing the special moment. A devoted father and his son, together. As simple as that.

After crossing the city we got near the school. He stopped. There was a long stairway to climb. He said:

- Son, now it's your turn. Daddy is coming home; you've got to go it all alone.

I nodded quickly, and was already turning my back on him, when he shouted:

- Son! Do you know why I've brought you here?

I had no idea. I just shocked my head and got closer again.

He replied, slowly:

- I've brought you here to... save the money for the bus. Now you can buy your snack...

And taking a deep breath he finally put his heart out:

- I've brought you here because I love you.

With that confession of a lifetime we ran out of words. Our eyes got wet.

I believe it was the first time I really thought about the meaning of love. It's a feeling you express by what you do, instead of just talking about it.

We turned around, and went away. There was no place for words.

Then, as proud as a child can be, I climbed those stairs up. My snack was no longer one of my concerns... All I wanted was to learn more about what I had just felt.

In other words, I wanted to keep learning what love was.

Neither