Last week I dished about all of the things you have to thank your mom for. What about your dad? Although the two play two different roles, they are both very important. So here are ten things to thank your dad for.
1. For having an incredible amount of patience with you.
I was the most talkative, bubbly, child/now adult ever. My dad always listened. From my middle school drama, to my new jobs, he wanted to, and still wants to hear it all.
2. For teaching you important life lessons in just a few words.
My dad has an uncanny way of being able to instill important lessons with just a few words. Whether it's a simple, "you don't cry, you make them cry." You were tough, and humorous in situations where I needed both!
3. For showing you different ways of doing things.
As I grow older I get set into my ways of doing certain tasks and chores, and you are never shy about showing me an easier or more efficient way of doing things.
4. For always expecting a lot from you.
Whether it was how I treated someone or how my first job was going, you expected me to always bring my best to the table, and you helped me find the best ways to do both and be successful.
5. For instilling a high self-esteem in you.
You and mom always made sure I saw myself in a way that made me never doubt my worth, my importance, or my ability to do anything. This is so important to me. I never struggled with toxic situations because if I ever found myself headed towards one, I had the support system and the knowledge of knowing exactly what I deserved, which always led me out of them and back home.
6. For trusting your decision making.
Even if you thought it might not be the BEST idea or when you knew certain friends weren't the BEST friends I could have, you guided me, trusted my decisions, and let me learn on my own. The best lessons you will ever learn are the ones where you made decisions that ended up not quite working out.
Sometimes you have to learn the hard way and you never sheltered me from that. You saved me a lot of grief of making the same mistakes over and over by letting me experience real life and not sheltering me from everything.
7. For understanding when you call him at the worst times saying the car is making a weird noise.
And then trying to understand the weird noises and lights I try to explain to you. It's like a secret girl language for some of us when our cars fail us and we have to try to explain it. You never left me stranded, and always dropped everything when I found myself stranded.
8. For taking the time to teach you about the history of your family and how important it really is.
You have shared all of the family stories with me and instilled an importance of family that I will never lose! Whether it was taking me to plant flowers at the cemetery and making sure we kept our family stone beautiful for those who have passed, or if it was remembering that no one has you back like your family when life gets tough. I will never forget any of it.
9. For raising you to be tough.
Even though I am the youngest and a girl, you never let that be an excuse for trying to run when life got hard. You taught me to face all of life's hardships head on and to NEVER be afraid.
10. For being your dad.
I can't going through life without you! You have given me a life that I am forever grateful for and have always been someone I can rely on no matter what. I am lucky to have you!
