≈ Father’s Day – Sit back, relax, and let the kids do the cooking ≈

∞ My List of Thoughts ∞

So, I did some research and have now added a bit of Father’s Day history to my vast fund of useless knowledge.

It turns out Father’s Day began with Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, who wanted to honor her father for raising six children on his own after her mother died. Inspired by Mother’s Day, she proposed a day to recognize fathers and the role they play, with the first official Father’s Day taking place in 1910.

Over the years, the idea gained support from presidents including Woodrow Wilson and Calvin Coolidge, until Lyndon B. Johnson officially proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day in 1966. The decision was made to finally recognize that fathers actually do play a role in the type of people their children turn out to be. Not so coincidentally, the effort also enjoyed the enthusiastic support of companies that sold men’s clothing and other Father’s Day gift-related items.

Battery Driven Chain Saw

Knowing the day grew from a specific child’s desire to recognize her dad and actually thinking about what a dad meant to a family got me looking at the day differently. I mean, logically, a dad being involved in a kid’s life is a good thing, but before the research I never specifically thought of fatherhood as a role with rules and responsibilities, I just knew instilling values and ethics and the ability to think was what dad's did.

Dads are an important part of the family equation. Studies conclude that they help children become more confident emotionally, socially, and intellectually. Even though a kid usually runs to Mom when their world falls apart or they skin a knee, fathers and father figures evidently play a pretty big role in how children analyze and react to the various sets of situations life throws their way.

So, what began as one daughter’s appreciation for her dad has, over the course of 116 years, become a national event and yet another day reserved for families to get together, fire up the grill, visit, and create multigenerational bonds.  I’m also OK with the gift thing.

Big Game Fishing Reels

And these days need to be reserved. The kids are all over the place. There are a million things going on—errands, drop-offs, practices, games, work, and life. To get everyone together, in one place at one time, you need an appointment. Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, and similar occasions put that appointment on the calendar.

Getting family together, young and old, is critical. It creates relationships that are immune to time. These gatherings generate the stories that become the family history, family fabric, and create the family bonds. If those bonds are formed early and often, they last forever. People sometimes tell me it's amazing how well my cousins and I know each other. It's not amazing. It's choreographed. Families need to spend time together to create lasting connections.

So now that we have the reasons, let's move on to gifts.

I have three kids. Okay, adult people, but they're still my kids. I generally pick out my Father's Day gift through my wife, who tells me what I need. She then tells the kids what to get me, and when I open it, I say, "Exactly what I needed!"

This year I asked my wife to tell them I wanted a Rolls-Royce. They said no. But how many dads can proudly say their children didn't get them a Rolls-Royce for Father's Day this year? (It wouldn’t be right to not get a “Dad Joke” in here somewhere). My backup choice was a new pair of hiking shoes. The pair I liked cost $160. I said that was ridiculous. My wife pointed out they're splitting it three ways, so I ordered the shoes.

Hopefully they arrive before Sunday so I can open them, act surprised, and say, "Exactly what I needed!" 😊

Great, Different and Cool Watches

To end on a serious note, for dads Father's Day is really about hoping you played enough of a role in your children's lives to have made a positive impact on them, to make them think, and be confident. However you get there, you hope they recognize and appreciate the effort. You hope you did it perfectly, knowing full well you absolutely didn't. And you hope they understand it was all done with love.

Fifteen Thoughts on How Dad's Should Bring Up Their Kids:

I'm not claiming to be an expert, but here's my list, in no particular order. I'm sure I'm leaving some things out, so feel free to add your own or debate mine.

• Kids are products of the environment they grow up in. Create an atmosphere of love, respect, and interaction. Talk with your kids no matter how high the volume occasionally gets.

• Spend time with your kids. Go to their games and performances. Take them to a museum or on a walk. The time is there it’s up to you to find it.

• You can't do everything, but get involved in something that connects you with other parents. PTA, clubs, sports, pick any. You'll quickly discover that every kid is a pain in the butt occasionally, and none of them are perfect, despite what their parents say.

• Show them the importance of respecting and caring about other people.

• Siblings should be best friends. Implant that.

• Take time to create memories. They last forever. And take pictures.

• Teach independence. Age appropriately, of course, but they can do more than you think they can.

• Make sure they know they can trust you and depend on you to be there no questions asked. Questions can come later...

• Set the standard for respect, honesty, and ethics in both work and life.

• Help them learn their family history. That's what gatherings like Father's Day are for. Let grandparents, aunts, and uncles tell stories about how they grew up. Someday your kids will tell those stories to their children.

• Hug them and kiss them.

• Listen to them. Kids are people too.

• Respect them. Kids are people too.

• Trust them. But verify.

• Love your kids no matter what. Being really angry is okay. On both sides.

As a father, your greatest hope is that your kids grow up to be good people, and, that they have room for you in their house when you and your wife get too old to live in yours.

If all of this gets me a pair of expensive hiking shoes, then I'm good. After all, they're splitting it three ways.

Happy Father’s Day!

Two guys walked into a bar. The third guy ducked.

OK, I have to go, I bought a pair of camouflage pants and I can’t find them anywhere.

Sorry, couldn’t help myself, Dad Jokes are how Eye Roll…

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