Childhood is not always about rainbows and butterflies, and 7-year-old Hailey MacGregor is very familiar with this. Just a few months ago, her family welcomed another baby into the family. Hailey has had a hard time adjusting to her new baby brother, on top of that, her father, a US Navy officer, has just been deployed overseas. It’s safe to say that Hayley’s life is very different than it was just 7 months ago.
The one thing that hasn’t changed in Hailey’s life is her commitment to cheerleading and school. Both activities serve to distract her from her changing and turbulent life. One particular night, Hailey was cheering on her squad as usual.
The game was about to start and Hailey was about to start her routine. It’s safe to assume that unsuspecting Hailey was completely shocked when the man on speakerphone started to announce her father’s name, although it only took a few seconds to figure out what he was saying.
Considering her father’s recent absence, it comes as no surprise that she was overwhelmed with emotion at the mere mention of his name. Besides being saddened to be reminded of her absence, Hailey’s confusion overwhelms her. Why do they say his father’s name on the megaphone at his school football match? That’s when his mother stepped in and told him to look at the other side of the field.
His father is standing where his mother pointed, with a wide smile on his face. He obviously missed his little girl. At the sight of her father, Hailey ran towards him as fast as she could and jumped into his arms. The crowd gets excited at this intimate parent-child encounter. At this point, there is hardly any dry playing field.
This moment shows how important family really is and that while times can get tough for little Hailey, the good times outweigh the bad times. You may not see her dad as much as she used to, but it just means that when you do see him, their time together will be even more special and precious. These are moments that the McGregor family will cherish forever.
