Thank you, Dad! Thank you for teaching me to fish!

Lately, as the months have been dwindling down till I reach adulthood my dad has been making a conscious and effective decision to teach me to be independent. In his words, I am learning to fish.

"Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."

This is what my dad is teaching me and I couldn't be more thankful. Let me elaborate on what I mean, as I have gone through high school I have learned an assortment of life skills. I learned how to jump start my car when I first got my license and every time my car broke down I learned how to fix it, brakes, flat tires, alternator, you name it. He taught me how to shoot a gun. When I decided I wanted my bathroom painted, my parents bought me some paint and my dad handed me a brush to get it done myself. When I started driving more alone he handed me pepper spray to help keep myself safe and taught me to take care of myself because while boyfriends and husbands are helpful and appreciated there's nothing like knowing you're capable!

He even did the simplest things like when I couldn't figure out the new TV he didn't do it for me. I couldn't be more thankful for these life skills that I have learned. Now chances are as an adult I'll still call up dad and ask for car advice or maintenance on my future home but nothing matches the appreciation I have for learning these skills or the accomplishment I feel for being able to pick out a 3/8 screwdriver while hardly looking.

Now maybe my dad taught me all these things merely so he wouldn't have to do them for me, but doesn't every dad want his daughter to be confident in who she is and know she can take care of herself when she goes off to college? These things taught me just this, confidence!

Young daughters, allow your dad to teach you these things, how to survive in this world independently and if they don't, ask! Few men will turn down questions about a car, and dads your daughters may not thank you now they will later!

I'm extremely thankful for my dad and in the hopes he has the chance to read this I want to ask at least one more favor.

April 28th is my Prom and every year we do this thing where the last 30 minutes of the night is devoted to senior recognition, the crowning of prom king and queen, and the parent dances. I've never been the sentimental type, in fact, I've never even wanted my parents there but for my senior year will you come! One night, one dance!