This month I wanted to give others the chance to honor the dads in their lives and for fathers to share some of their wisdom with us. To be a father is a very special role, thank you to all those who were willing to open up and share with me.
Mike father of four, 29,27,25 and 22
The best things about being a father are the unsolicited hugs, the pride of your babies becoming good, happy and loving adults. Watching them problem solve and experiencing the results together is pretty special. The worst part is worrying that they are okay and watching them hurt physically and emotionally is difficult when you can’t take the “pain” away.
Marissa: My daddy is a wonderful man but also a pain. He may not be my real father because I am adopted but that doesn't even matter. He also may live hundreds of miles away but always finds a way to still pick on me. I am a total daddy's girl and love him to the moon and back. It is hard being apart from him sometimes but I always know he is there if I ever need something! He is very caring and giving to others. Always willing to help in any way he can. Very loving and does a great job of taking care of our family. He is funny and a pain but in the best sense possible. He makes me laugh and loves me unconditionally. He is one cool dude.
Brittany: My dad has been there to support me growing up and has been a really great example for me on how I should be treated by my partner. He set the bar pretty high for how I expected to be treated in relationships because I saw how he treated my mom with so much patience and respect. But I guess my dad to me is a role model and someone I really look up to because he is so kind and patient.
Scott father of three, 32, 28, 25
The worst part about being a dad is having really sick kids. The best part is seeing your kids succeed beyond your wildest dreams.
Tiffany: My daddy would definitely be my grandpa. Although my actual father wasn't around, my grandpa helped raise me and so I can never say I grew up fatherless.
Annette: My dad is the man in my life I can lean on any time. He taught me how to bake, how to bowl, how to swim, how to golf, how to play soccer, how to go fishing... He taught me promptness and respect for others' time. He went to work early every day and came home to fix dinner for the family. He taught me to dance. He taught me to laugh. He taught me to dream, and never to settle.
Bert father of two 27 and 24
The best part about being a dad is what my daughters have accomplished on their own. The worst part, when they were teenagers, waiting near the phone past 9pm very worried. Nothing happened when they were out but the worry was high level.
Pat: You would think that I would talk about my own dad, when he was sober he was a good dad.....or I could talk about my husband who spent lots of time with our boys, but it’s a toss up between my brother who was our father figure for about 4 years when we had no father. He kept the 5 of us together, he would discipline us, take care of us, feed us, hug us, give us direction. He did all of this when he was only 10 years old. And now once again he kind of has taken that role again when our mom died and once again the 4 of us leaned on him. He has always been one of my heros....always ready to help us, encourage us and if needed he would chew us out. The other dad I admire is my son. In this day and age when men are making babies and walking away, he has gone into debt to pay for lawyers to fight for custody of his little girl. He is fighting for her when no one else is.....and he will continue to do so.
Katey: I am lucky to have been raised by my stepdad since I was 8. He is the guy I can talk sports and beer with and the guy who will and has literally been by my side for every celebration and sticky situation. He's taught me what it means to have someone love you and be there for you no matter what.
I grew up believing my dad could fix anything, including a broken heart. Still, as an adult, that holds true. My dad has dedicated his life to the well-being of our family which includes my mom and my three siblings. His goal was always to make sure that we had the best lives possible and, as I’m tearing up writing this I can say wholeheartedly that he and my mom did a great job of providing us with a loving and supportive home.
Happy Father’s day to all you dads out there! Enjoy this special day.
