Dads ... we love to hate them, but honestly we wouldn't trade those losers for the world. They helped shape us to be the people we are today, and if you're lucky enough to have a father-figure you know when it comes to showing emotions, most dads are like the stoic super heroes we picture them to be. And when it comes to their teenage/young adult daughters, dads are pretty much clueless. Here are some ways your dad tells you he loves you without actually saying it:
1. When he coached your little league team.
You knew way back then that you'd always have a number one fan.
2. When he let you step on his toes during the father-daughter dance at school.
3. All those times he bought pizza for dinner when Mom was working late and it was his night to cook.
4. When he killed every spider and bug that you ever crossed paths with.
5. When he taught you how to drive and had total confidence in you, despite how little you had in yourself.
6. And then continues to answer all of your frantic calls about the weird noise your car is making today.
7. And the way he accepts the fact that he will be the first person you call for any question about any sort of technology -- "Did you try turning it on and off?"
8. Or rather any sort of random question at all.
"How do I do my taxes?" ... "What's my social security number?" ... "How do I iron a shirt?"
9. When he pays the Netflix bill.
10. Or pays your cellphone bill.
11. Or fills your gas tank without your knowledge.
12. When he watches all your reality TV shows with you and then pretends to not like them.
13. When he lets you pick the radio station and then sings the falsettos to every song (or maybe that is just my dad).
14. Every time he sent you back to bed because "monsters aren't real."
You didn't realize it then, but forcing you to be brave paid off in the future.
15. When he buys your mom flowers.
Because loving her right sets the best example for you.
16. When he makes your doctor appointments for you because you aren't adult enough yet.
17. All those times he had to make emergency tampon runs and made his best guess out of all the options.
18. For shaking hands with your pimple-faced high school boyfriend who you thought was the one and every other guys' hand after, even though it was awkward, and he had a billion other places he'd rather be.
19. When he tells you to order whatever you want. Because extra fries are a necessity.
20. When he helped you move all your stuff out of the house for college, even though he really was sad to see you go.
21. Dad jokes ... endless Dad jokes.
23. Explaining the rules repeatedly for every sporting game.
"Wait, how long is a quarter?" ... "Which team do we want to win?"
24. When he takes and then retakes pictures the right way for you.
25. When he tells you he's proud of you.
Because he means it. And you're everything he could have ever hoped you'd be.
