With Father's Day here this week, I've started to think about the simple things in life my father and many other fathers do that are never really acknowledged. So if you are looking for something a little more special than another "Number One Dad!" coffee mug, may I suggest you sit down and make up a list of things you would like to thank your dad, grandpa, fatherly figure, etc. for. Here are a few ideas.
1. Thank you for killing all of the scary spiders, bugs, snakes, etc. in my bedroom.
No one wants to do it, but you do it anyway. You are an everyday superhero taking down the real monsters in life. It is because of you that I can safely sleep in my room without the fear of a giant spider crawling in my bed.
2. Thank you for helping me learn to drive.
Because let's be honest, no one really wants to deal with student drivers who are terrified of other drivers. I would have absolutely no idea how to change a tire without your help. And I know that if there is a weird noise coming from the bottom of my car, I can always count on you to offer me advice or come and pick me up.
3. Thank you for helping me with my homework.
I've lost track of all of the practice math problems you have created for me, science questions I've had that you answered, and essays you have proofread for me. You have helped set me up for success not only academically, but for everything else I do because you showed me the benefits of hard work. You may not know all of the answers, but you did your best anyway—and consulted with Mom when you had questions.
4. Thank you for introducing me to coffee.
There is no needed explanation for this one. Starbucks is a life necessity, and you made my life better by giving coffee products to me.
5. Thank you for your sense of humor.
Even though we all deny it, we all need the occasional potty humor and bad jokes in our lives. We even need the occasional comedy from when you were our age, too (think "Monty Python," "Airplane," "Space Balls," etc.).
6. Thank you for watching terrible movies with me.
I know you would rather be watching the History Channel instead of the "Twilight" movies with me—in fact, you would probably rather watch anything other than a "Twilight" movie. But you watched it anyway, along with all of the other trashy teen movies I thought were so fantastic in junior high because you knew I really wanted to watch them. Thanks for being a team player, and yes I will watch "American Pickers" with you to make up for it.
7. Thank you for offering to beat up any guy I have plans on going out with.
While this is something I would rather avoid, I would like to thank you for always offering. I know that you do it with the best intentions, and I'm 90 percent that you're kidding when you say that you'll be waiting up all night in case you need to take Joe Schmoe out (at least I hope so).
8. Thank you for being involved in my life.
While you may have never played a day of soccer in your life, you still were a coach because you knew I really loved soccer. While you probably had a thousand better things to do, you would always wait in the lobby during my dance classes in case I needed something. No one really wants to sit through an elementary school concert, but you went to them all anyway because you knew how important band and choir were to me. You were always there cheering me on, no matter what activity I was into at the moment, and I appreciate the support you gave me.
9. Thanks for not letting me dye my hair pink.
You and Mom were right about this one: neon pink highlights are not a good look, despite what my 11 year old self thought. Thanks for not letting me make too many poor choices during my crazy years.
10. Thank you for forcing me to try new things.
Did I ever really want to take piano lessons? No, but you knew it would be good for me. Did I want to try eating lobster? No, it looked disgusting, but you convinced me to try it because you knew I would like it. Did I really want to try playing tennis? Not originally, but you figured I would be good at it (not really, but it was fun). You and Mom forced me to be adventurous and try new things, and most of the time I ended up being glad that I did.
11. And finally, thank you for always being there when I needed you.
Happy Father's Day to all of the fatherly figures in the world, and thank you all for making life better for your children.
