As a dad for the last 12+ years, I have to admit I've long viewed my Father's Day as a sort of "service-time recognition" (close-to-but-not-the-same) equivalent to the Mother's Day counterpart. I daresay many of us dad's acknowledge (with appreciation and...relief?) the more significant role our spouse's play in the parenting arena, and humbly accept the nod for the supporting roles we play in raising our kids. That's not to diminish the primary role many fathers perform—and the incredible job they do—and recognition they deserve. It's simply a reality that, more often than not, dad's play the second fiddle, supporting role...sous chef, assistant teacher, vice president...you get the idea. I look at my Father's Day as a day of reflection and thoughtfulness about what I need to be consistently doing on the other 364 days of the year so I'm always a good father to my kid. I think that is truly the hardest part—especially with the "ebbs and flows" of our roles as our kids progress from infant to toddler, preschooler to kindergartner, tween to teen, young adult to...(gulp) adult. What dad hasn't experienced on any given day how we're either an out-of-touch, embarrassing, dorky Dad (picture child with eyes rolling up into their eyelids)—or the smartest, coolest, bravest hero Dad our kid has ever known (and the hugs that come with it)?
Which is why, for me again this year, I'll love getting another "nod" for being a dad—but in my mind it will be for all I've learned this past year that's made me a good dad. A better dad. It's a reminder to myself of how dedicated I am to being the best I can be in my—albeit supporting—role as father to my daughter. It's a tremendous learning curve—and in all respects—the hardest (and most rewarding) job I've ever had in my life.
To all the other dads out there, I hope you think about, and act on daily, how important your role is to your kids. Tell your kids in some way, every day—how important they are so they know how much you love them—no matter what—just for them being themselves.
Eventually, they'll forget about us being that out-of-touch, embarrassing, dorky Dad we can sometimes be. I hope.
Have a wonderful "Congrats-On-All-We've-Learned" Day.
