underrate; verb; un·der·rate \ˌən-də(r)-ˈrāt\ : to rate or value (someone or something) too low.
Synonyms and related words: underestimate, undervalue, de-emphasize, minimize, play down, soft-pedal; belittle, decry, depreciate, disparage; despise, disdain, scorn.
Father's Day this year is Sunday, June 21. Naturally, the holiday has inspired thought of my own dad, and more than anything, I've realized how under-appreciated he is. I've written things for The Odyssey about my mom, like my article for Mother's Day, but nothing about my dad.
There's just something about dads (and especially mine) that leads to an undervaluation and an underestimation. They're overlooked by the roars of our mothers and the misunderstandings of adolescence.
And so, I created this list. These are the eight reasons I believe dads (and especially my own) are among the most underrated people around.
1. They helped create you, too.
When babies are born, the mom and the baby are the stars of the show. However, if both mom and baby are lucky enough, there's a supporting actor in the room yelling "push" as loud as he can while trying not to vomit and cry at the same time. Ultimately, our mothers brought us into the world, but in the beginning, it takes two to tango, and we can't forget about our dads either.
2. Your dad is/was the ultimate safety net.
As a child, before security systems and safety measures were conceptualized, in your mind, your dad is really all you needed. He started out as your watchdog, lurking closet monsters and bedbugs, but he turned into your protection from the horrors of middle school, the stresses of high school, and today, he's still your go-to guy when things get rough. He's a ride from the party that got a little too wild, and he's the voice of reason to talk you off the ledge. As long as you can remember, he's always been able to make it better, no matter what "it" was.
3. He was never afraid to be the butt of a joke.
When you told a joke that needed someone to poke fun at, your mom would've gotten you in trouble, your younger siblings would've made you mean, and your older siblings would've gotten you beaten. That left your dad, and as you've gotten older, you realize that dads have feelings too, but he never let you know that, because he liked to see you laugh more.
4. But he was never afraid to tell his own jokes.
Dad jokes are some of the best jokes, and you know them by heart because you only heard them 263 times in every year of your childhood. Pete and Repeat, knock-knock jokes, and other stars of dad humor are in the very bottom of your arsenal today, but they never disappoint. You learned from the best.
5. Fatherhood is a balancing act, and dads are the ultimate jugglers.
Whether he was providing comic relief after one of your mother's lectures, balancing a stressful job with being a family man, or rationalizing the most complex of struggles, your dad always understood how to give just enough of one thing and the exact amount needed of another. When emotion ruled you or other people, he's the first person to tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to, and he always knows just what you need.
6. As much as you hate to admit it, your dad gave you a lot more than his nose.
From the moments we first enter the world, our dads become our ultimate role models. As an adult, you can pick out pieces of him in every part of yourself; the way you drive a car, the way you walk, the way you talk, the way you take your coffee, and your favorite drink. Far too often, our paternal contributions go overlooked or unnoticed, but you wouldn't be half the person you are today without your dad.
7. Where would we have gotten #dadbods and #totaldadmoves without the originals?
Dads have given us some of today's most iconic cultural phenomenons, including dad bods and others. "Dad culture" has become enormously popular among young people, as seen in the rise of styles like New Balance sneakers and hightop white socks. "Dude, you look like somebody's dad" used to be a call to change your clothes, but today, it's the ultimate compliment.
8. They've gone under-appreciated all these years despite the many ties, coffee mugs, and cufflinks you've purchased on Father's Day.
It's no secret that dads are the hardest people to shop for, and that shows in the number of ties purchased around this time of year. Your dad has always flown under the radar; he doesn't give you a shopping list like your mom, and he's been the unsung hero of your whole life. Our dads have never expected to be recognized or celebrated, and that's exactly why they should be.
Dads are everyday heroes.
They're heroes because they answer the phone, because they love you even though they can't understand you, and because they're the most extraordinary ordinary people in the entire world.
This Father's Day, don't buy your dad another tie.
Go see him. Buy him a card and write on the inside that you'll never be able to put into words how much he means to you, because you won't.
Tell him you love him and spend a day telling him about what's going on in your life, because he deserves so much more than another tie.
Happy Father's Day, Dad.
