Father’s Day is approaching, and even though the day doesn’t receive as much attention as Mother’s Day does, fathers deserve just as much love. There are so many things to thank your father for, but here are 16 of the most important ones.

1. Helping you fix your car

My dad has always been the one to help me out when something is wrong with my car, because he knows what to do. Whenever there’s a problem, he checks it out and tells me what to do about it or who to go to so it can be fixed. He’s always my first call when something isn’t working or something sounds funny in my car. Chances are that your dad is the same, so thank him for helping you out.

2. Driving you around

Before you had a car, your dad probably drove you (and likely your friends) around all the time. He was your chauffeur for the night as you and your friends went to the movies and then to dinner and then back to your house for a sleepover, and he might have even driven a friend or two home in the morning. Wherever he drove you, thank him for it. He didn’t have to let you go at all.

3. Giving you money when you really don’t need it

I realize not a lot of people’s dads have done this, but my dad frequently gives my siblings and I money for things when we don’t really need it. Especially now that I have a job, I don’t really need money often, but it’s always nice to get a little extra cash for little things when you’re saving up to pay off your college debt in a few years. So thank your dad for giving you money even before you were a poor college student.

4. Being protective

Your dad protects you, whether you want him to or not. He wants to look out for you simply because you’re his child. That’s why he might not like your friends or your significant other as much as you’d like him to - he wants the best for you, but no one measures up to you in his eyes. Even though you might think it’s annoying at times, thank him for protecting you. You need it.

5. Teaching you to drive

My dad taught me how to drive, and I’m very grateful for it. I consider myself a very cautious and good driver because of how he taught me. He spent countless hours with me in empty parking lots and on back roads teaching me how to drive after I got my permit. If your dad taught you how to drive, thank him for it. You’re probably a better driver because of him.

6. Disciplining you

No one likes when parents discipline, but you need it. You need to have some kind of rules or guidelines in your life. If you’re like me, your dad has probably been the one to do most of that. You might not have always liked what he said or did, but you know now that you needed it. Thank him for teaching you right from wrong and helping you grow.

7. Listening to your stories

Personally, I can talk a lot, especially when I’m talking about something I love (or hate). I know I’ve probably gone on and on about things my dad cares nothing about, but he listens anyway. He sits there and takes it because he loves me. Your dad is probably the same. Your dad has probably sat there listening to you tell a pointless story even though he didn’t want to. Thank him for it.

8. Watching crime shows with you

My dad and I watch so many crime shows together, it’s a little ridiculous. It’s our thing. I mean, Investigation Discovery is our channel. We either try to figure out what happened and who did it or we criticize the investigative work because we solved the crime 10 minutes into the show. If it’s not crime shows, I'm sure you and your dad watch something together. Thank him for spending that time and creating a common interest with you.

9. Helping you make decisions

I can be very indecisive, so I usually turn to other people for help. Sometimes I turn to my mom and other times I turn to my dad, but they both help me out when I need it. You probably thanked your mom for this on Mother’s Day, so thank your dad for it this Sunday. He’ll appreciate it.

10. Playing with you as a child

My dad spent a lot of time with me and my siblings when we were younger. He even took time off work to stay at home with my siblings after they were born so that my mom could go back to work. He was there every day after school, and he played with me and my siblings a lot. I’m sure your dad was the same, so thank him for that.

11. Letting you get away with something every now and then

Have you ever done something you weren’t supposed to and thought you were going to get in trouble and then your dad let you off the hook? I have a few times. It’s great. Your dad was probably really mad about or disappointed in whatever you did, but he let you get away without punishment. He didn’t have to do this, so you should thank him for it (if you do, maybe he’ll let you get away with things more often!).

12. Doing his best to understand

Parents and children don’t always see eye to eye, and in my experience, dads and daughters don’t see eye to eye less often than others. But I can guarantee that your dad has tried his best to understand you and where you’re coming from, even if he doesn’t agree with you. Your dad is trying to understand because he wants you to be happy and wants to have a positive relationship with you. So thank him for trying to understand you.

13. Showing you how men should treat women

Dads are great role models for girls and boys, especially in social interaction. My dad has shown my sister and I how we need and are supposed to be treated by men, and he has shown my brother how to treat girls. He’s done all of this through his treatment of my mom, me, my siblings and people in general. Thank your dad for being a positive role model because not everyone has one of those.

14. Loving you

Your dad loves you unconditionally, even if you don’t think so. You’re his kid, so he loves you. There isn’t much you can do to change that. Your dad does everything he does for you because he loves you, so you should thank him for it. Whether he tells you every day, once in a blue moon, or not at all, your dad loves you. You should tell him you love him and thank him for loving you.

15. Letting you be yourself

I know some dads try to change their kids to be their ideal versions of themselves, but I would say that most dads let their children be themselves. If your dad has always supported you in who you are, then you’re lucky - not everyone has that. If your dad accepts every part of who you are, thank him for it. Not everyone has a dad who lets them be who they really are inside. Your dad has let you be the real you without judgment. He was there through your weird small child phase and your awkward middle school years, and he loved you the whole time. He lets you do what makes you happy, even if he might not agree with it. He lets you be weird and say stupid things, and he loves everything about you. He wants you to be the best you that you can be, so he embraces every part of you. Thank him for doing that. It’s not easy to let someone be completely himself or herself without judgment, so your dad deserves some serious credit for doing that.

16. Being your dad

This is probably the most important one on this list, but it also goes without saying. You should thank your dad for being your dad. Thanking him for being your dad means thanking him for everything he does for you in one sentence. By thanking him for being your dad, you’re thanking him for everything else I’ve mentioned. Your dad deserves a lot of recognition for everything he does, so thank him for it all at once by thanking him for being him and for being your dad.

Your dad is awesome, so be sure to tell him that on Father’s Day. He will definitely appreciate all the nice things you have to say.

Dad, thank you for everything you have done for our family. You’ve always been there, and I can’t thank you enough for that. Happy Father’s Day. I love you.