Tags
One of the main focus of this blog is where I discuss various aspects of fatherhood and being a Dad. Of all the labels I have attached to me, Father is one of the most important (along with Christian and Husband). So you can imagine that father’s day means quite a bit to me.
Another reason it is so important is I reflect on my own father, and at times, his father as well. My dad has been gone now for 5 Father’s day and even though I think about him almost every day, fathers day is never the easiest of days.
So this year I got to sleep in and watch Germany v Mexico in the world cup. It was a heck of a game and unlike many, I LOVE the world cup, and soccer(football) as a whole. So it was quite a treat. The little guy was pretty excited to give me a gift that he had made, a book about his dad. It was quite the treat, and one of those keepsakes that I will keep for years to come.
After that it was off to Church. Because we went to a later service that usual, the little guy was with us instead of at Sunday school class. He was super well behaved, we are very fortunate that he really is such a great little guy. After church we were off to a late breakfast, possibly even ‘brunch’. After that we came home and I opened a couple of gifts (much needed clothes!) and packed up stuff for the pool. Unfortunately it was a pretty cool day, not pool weather. So we headed off to the in laws and I hung with the dads (my father in law and brother in laws).
To quote Ice Cube ‘it was a good day’
I would like to talk about reflections now.
As I said before, I reflect on my dad, my grandpa, the fathers before me. I reflect on my own previous Fathers days (this was my 7th, and I reflect on all the amazing accomplishments my son has completed (walking, riding a bike, hitting a baseball, learning, reading, the list goes on and will continue to expand)) as a dad and what they have meant to me. Each year is a completely different experience, as he grows and develops, it is like a different boy every year.
Onto my dad. I think of the lessons I have taken away from him on fatherhood, husbandry, as an employee, as a friend. I think of the sayings we heard growing up (if you had done it right the first time…), the lessons we learned, some positive, some negative.
There is one experience with my Father that involved his father that I will never forget (or hope to never forget). In 2005 I was working for an insurance company and it was an excessively rough hurricane season. As a result, I was sent to Florida for 3 months to work with one of our Managing General Agencies in Tampa. The good news about this is I got to stay with my Mom and Dad. During this time, my Grandfather (his dad) was going through a rough patch health wise and would eventually pass on. During the time of his decline, my father and I made the drive south to see him in the hospital. My dad cared for him in a way I had never seen a man care for his father. He made sure he ate his meal, asked loads of questions to make sure he was comfortable, doted over him (doted is probably not the right word, but the one that immediately came to mind, so we’ll go with it). It was very touching. Not long after that visit, my grandfathers health continued to deteriorate and he passed away.
I wish I could say as my dads health was declining I was able to care for him the same way, but I can’t. But what I saw from him that afternoon still moves me today. As I reflect on these memories, I am once again reminded of the bond of a father and his son.
There are other memories and reflections I have of my dad, not all of them positive, but now, five Father’s day past, I still remember that October afternoon in a southern Florida hospital with what would eventually be three generations of Dads.
I would love to hear about your favorite reflection of your own Father, any traditions or special moments you would care to share, please feel free to share them in the comments.