For millions of people, when they hear, “Dad,” they think about a larger-than-life character who brings a sense of fun, big hugging arms, and a kind heart. This past Father’s Day had me thinking about the special reasons to celebrate and connect with your dad.
Aside from the literal fact that you would not exist if not for his kind “contribution”, he and your mom had to survive your 24/7 demands as a baby, feeding and burping you, changing your nappies (you know how bad you smell, nobody should have to do that!), and rocking you to sleep. He and your mom stood by each other, trying to survive severe sleep deprivation and hardship while earning a living and taking care of each other. There could be no greater self-sacrifice than what your parents did to help you navigate your infancy.
But you weren’t done with killing off your dad’s spirit yet. As a toddler, he couldn’t leave you for even one minute for a quick toilet break of his own, for he knew that in his absence, you’d try to kill yourself by jumping into a swimming pool, running into traffic, eating marbles, or trying to drink a refreshing household detergent. After the “terrible-two’s”, he and your mom became your full-time slaves, taxiing you to and from school and sport, shouting encouragement from the sidelines, carrying you to bed when you got tired, making you feel special with those big hugs and prickly kisses… OK, some of those kisses you could have done without!
You won’t know the true meaning of self-sacrifice until you’ve sat on a mat playing Lego with your own children for hours (adult legs don’t do cross-legged sitting very well), pushed your kid on a swing a million times in a cold wind while staring blankly into space, or suffered through yet another 60-minute ballgame, watching your child’s team get hammered, but still telling your child how amazing they were immediately afterwards.
Your parents went off to work to pay for your food, your clothes, and then spent the rest of their meagre savings on sending you to college.
It’s so easy to get irritated by dads making bad puns in public, wearing suits that went out in 2005 (and saying, “No! You don’t realise this is the fashion!”), and giving you cringe-worthy advice on safe sex. But, leave the disapproval to your mom. She’s so much more effective at it than you are.
Many people come to appreciate their fathers and mothers too late, once their parents are elderly or deceased. Only then do they realise what has been done and given up for them, and how truly awesome was the adoration and dedication of their parents. Children cannot truly understand the depth of love of a parent for a child until they have children themselves.
If you are / were lucky enough to grow up in a happy home, surrounded by love and warmth, then you truly are a very privileged person with much to feel grateful for. We live in times that encourage us to take so much for granted, including our parents. Most people only get a lifetime supply of one dad, so rejoice in him, love him, thank him; and do this today. Don’t wait. We never regret the love and appreciation we give, but many wish they’d done more for the ones they love. Don’t waste any opportunity to bring joy to your father and yourself. Give him a massive hug, tell him you love him, and say thank you to one of the most important people in your life, your dad.