Happy Father’s Day!

Audio By Carbonatix

Father’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate dads of all kinds, and I love doing that! I love to celebrate dads because I know how important this role is in family life. Dads have regular opportunities to help their kids or stepkids or grandkids navigate the challenges of day-to-day life. Often dads are the parents who help kids face new challenges and try new things that can be scary. They help teach kids about sports and tools and machines. They play catch or shoot hoops for hours, which has a way of almost “accidentally” getting kids to open up about what they’re dealing with in life. 

For all of the dads out there who are playing other roles of a dad – repairman, skills teacher, designated QB, referee, grill master, tea party attendee, motivator, and so many more – thanks for the way that you’re investing in the lives of the next generation! Some of us (me included) are doing it without having had a good example of what it looks like to be a kind and loving dad. And that can feel a lot like trying to reach a destination that we’ve been told about, but we’ve never been given a map. If you can relate, I want to extend an extra bit of celebration your way! Thanks for changing the cycle that played out in your life growing up. You’re making more of an impact than you realize. 

I know that all of this playing and fixing and exploring and running around is tiring and it requires sacrifice. Now that my kids are all grown, I get smaller doses of these experiences with my grandkids. And I’m reminded of just how busy life is with a young family. Kids just don’t stop going…and going…and going. It’s intense! But the gift that you’re giving your kids when you give them your time and attention is the best possible thing for them. I know that they seem more welcoming of your input when they’re younger than they seem during their teenage years. But it’s important for you to stay engaged during that stage too. They may act like they don’t want your involvement, but they still need it. (I think they also want it, deep down. But they may have a hard time communicating that, or even knowing it themselves.) 

So, thanks, dads. Thanks for playing and helping and fixing when sitting on the couch and watching the game sounds like a much more relaxing option. Thanks for staying connected even when your kids’ interests turn toward music that grates on your nerves, video clips you don’t find funny (or that you don’t even understand!), and celebrities or influencers that you’ve never heard of. As we know, kids’ interests are constantly changing, and they’ll probably move on from whatever they’re really fixated on right now. But when you make the effort to stay engaged with them, no matter what their current interests are, you’re continuing to build your relationship on a foundation that will last a lifetime. And for that, I want to say thanks. Your kids probably won’t have the presence of mind to say it now, but they’ll see it eventually. For now, I want to celebrate you and wish you a Happy Father’s Day!