I love being a dad. Watching my four children as they grow, learn new things, and have new adventures always makes me happy, and knowing that I’m helping to shape the people they have and will become makes proud. They’re great kids and I hope I’m doing a good job being their dad.My wife taught me the finer points of being a good parent. She taught me the little tricks, crafty approaches, and ingenious use of language that makes her such a great mom. I’d be a good dad without her, but things that she’s taught me allow me to be a great dad sometimes.But the broad general foundation of what it takes to be a good parent was built by my own parents. I’ve written of my appreciation for them before, but since today’s Father’s Day I figured I’d write a little bit more about my dad.My dad is…unconventional. That’s one word. Unique is another. And pain-in-the-ass probably applies sometimes, too.But I also can’t imagine that anyone has ever had a better dad than me.
Although he’s never been the type of guy to sit us down and have long talks about lessons we need to learn, or questions we might have, he’s always taught me plenty about being a good person and a good parent.When I was sixteen-years-old I got my first job bagging groceries. It was summer and I had a bit of a hard time getting used to sacrificing some of the copious free time I’d always had.I vividly recall an afternoon when my dad became angry because I declined a chance to go into work on my day off. That was my first lesson in what he expected me to do as an actual working person with an actual job. A job’s a responsibility, and he expected me to work hard, and to take it seriously.I’d always known that he worked hard as a food service manager, and that he went out of his way to do a good job, but to know that he expected my sisters and me to have the same attitude was a real wake-up call.He brought the same work ethic to the years he spent volunteering in our local little league. It wasn’t enough to coach a team. Many dads want to coach a team. He volunteered to do the hard work required to run a league: organize fundraisers, cut the grass, pull weeds, paint bleachers, sacrifice most summer evenings at the field, and deal with other parents who are quick to complain, but slow to volunteer.The basic sense of fairness and kindness that he shows in most things he does extended to little league. We never had a good team. The best record we ever had was 8-8. Most years we never came close to eight wins.But every kid in the league would have loved to play on my dad’s team. He made it fun. He made sure everyone got a chance to play. He joked around. He remembered that it’s a kids game and if the kids aren’t having fun then there’s no real point to it.It’s an attitude I’ve tried to adopt as I coach my own son.He’s taught me many things, but the most important thing he taught me is that nothing is more important than your family. Despite his moodiness, and the occasional ridiculous outburst of frustration because of things we did or did not do, my sisters and I have never, not even for one second, doubted that he loves us and would do anything for us.He’s a hard-working, decent, fair, kind, loving, supportive, understanding, and funny dad. What more could anyone ask for? I certainly can’t imagine having a better dad than the one I’ve had.The measure of what makes a great dad is different for everyone I suppose. But when I think of my own fatherhood, I guess my ultimate goal for my children is to be able to look back and say that they’re happy with the people they’ve become, and part of the reason for that is because they had me for a dad.And I can say exactly that about me and my dad. I wouldn’t change anything about my life, and part of the reason for that is because of the person I’ve become, thanks in part to my dad.Happy Father’s Day, Dad!PREVIOUS POST: Are You Courageous, or Just an Idiot?IF YOU LIKED THIS POST I BET YOU'LL ALSO LIKE: The Two Great Moms in My Life+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++