A Father's gift

"PJ Shafer plays with his five-years-old son Hayden on the playground at The Shafer Center for Early Intervention Wednesday, June 11,2008. Hayden was diagnosed with autism while PJ was working as an attorney in Owings Mills. In order to be there for Hayden, PJ switched careers to have an active involvement with Hayden's day-to-day life."

Big Daddy. I guess the two-word phrase is synonymous with the blockbuster hit starring Adam Sandler, a fictional video game wrestler created by my buddy and the nickname given to a friend’s father’s business associate.

But what the name in this story means in being a bigger man, giving up his first passion of work to spend more time with his son.

Earlier this week, I got to hang out with PJ Shafer and his five-year-old son, Hayden. Hayden was diagnosed with autism while PJ was working as an attorney in Owings Mills.

But in order to be there for Hayden, PJ switched careers and joined his mother's financial planning business. Since then, he started the Shafer Center with his wife, allowing PJ to have an active involvement with Hayden's day-to-day life.

This in turn has transformed into a bigger gift to all students enrolled at the Shafer Center, it has also helped other children on the same spectrum.

On my way to Reisterstown, I had no idea what to expect. Since I didn't have much going on, I was hoping to hang out a lot longer than I typically would on an assignment.

I arrived a bit early and met with PJ, where he was enjoying some fundamental fun with his son on the playground.

The place where any kid is happy and any father can enjoy simple interaction with their children, so I opted to follow them around the playground for 45 minutes.

Their affection toward one another was imminent and this photo ended up running with the story as they took a break from running around the multi-colored playground on a fantastic weathered morning.

While the image that ran may be deemed endearing by some, the above was an image I thought showed a bit more personality of the two.

The Hayden swing was what it was called. PJ frequently picked his son up and did this. I missed it the first time, but saw how much Hayden liked it, so I stood on guard for it again.

The pleasure of being swung back-and-forth by his father, while a melody of song was sung, "The best type of swing is the Hayden swing..." was anything but obtuse to Hayden. He didn't like it, he loved it.

His face exhibited pure joy and it was evidence he loved his father, as we all should on Sunday.

Happy Father's Day dads.