This post is brought to you by Myer.
By JAMILA RIZVI
For my eighth birthday I wanted roller-skates.
For me, those roller skates were a representation of everything that was cool. In fact, I hadn’t really made any plans for my life after the day I would become the proud owner of The Roller Skates. White roller skates to be precise – with white laces and blue wheels. Once I had them, my life would be complete.
I had wanted them forever (okay, maybe a year, less?) But my unusually cruel and harsh parents insisted that I learn to ride my bike before I got yet another piece of sporting equipment that I wouldn’t use. Meanies.
The problem was that I wasn’t the most confident of little kids. Especially when it came to anything where there was even a remote possibility that I could get hurt.
I was the five-year-old that stood at the top of the water-slide for half an hour, generously letting other kids go in front of me, waiting for a gap in the line so I could climb back down the stairs without anyone noticing – too scared to go down the actual slide.
I was scared of heights. I was scared of being hit in the face by a ball. I was scared of the snow. I was scared of diving into a pool, in case I hit my head on the bottom. And I was terrified of learning to ride my bike. But you see, I had to do it. I had to. The Roller Skates depended on it.
We had been practicing on the school oval for hours, with he and my mum taking turns at pushing me. Poor mum, after almost breaking her back from bending over and holding the seat of the bike, while she pushed it along had finally had enough and taken my little sister home. My dad persevered.
For a dad who was sports mad and when it came to anything athletic had essentially no fear – it must have been tough pushing his prissy little daughter around all day and night. I still remember saying again and again ‘don’t let go dad, don’t let go’ because I honestly believed that the end was nigh for me if I was left to pedal alone. The harshness of the grassy landing that awaited me when the bike inevitably tipped, would surely spell my DOWNFALL.
But we got there. We got there because dad wouldn’t let go. We got there in the end only because I trusted him and knew that he wouldn’t let me try on my own until I was actually ready to.
Most adults would have given up on me earlier or simply given me a push and let me fall – so that I could see it wasn’t that bad – but not my Dad. He took my inane little fears seriously and would rationally talk through with me the physics of falling and assess the potential risk versus reward of trying to pedal without him holding me upright.
Painful as the process was, the riding of bikes was ultimately achieved.
A few weeks later we were at the school oval again. It was the morning of my eighth birthday and I was in possession of The Roller Skates. Mum, dad, my sister and I were testing them out ahead of my party that afternoon.
I remember being grumpy with dad for not paying proper attention to my phenomenal skating abilities. I remember being annoyed that he disappeared for a while, to go to the local medical centre because he told mum he hasn’t been feeling well.
We were told by Doctors later that day that my dad appeared to have suffered a heart attack overnight. I don’t recall much of my eighth birthday party, other than the fact that dad wasn’t there and for the parts that mum was, she was crying.
My dad recovered and he was fine. He’s still fine in fact.
Too many little girls grow up without their dad for reasons of death, divorce or simply, disinterest. I know how lucky I was and how lucky I am. Every big moment I have with my dad I remember how many of them might not have happened.
It’s Father’s Day in a few weeks. And as happens every year, my sister and I will agonise over what to get the man who says he doesn’t need anything, doesn’t want anything. It will drive us absolutely and totally bonkers, trying to force him into admitting that there actually is something he has his eye on.
I’m thinking a bike. What do you reckon?
Jamila’s dad is a Daddy Set Go – a sports guy. What about your dad? Is yours a Dad-a-licious who is master of the barbie? A Big Boss daddy-o or a Cool Daddy? A reader or a rocker? Whoever he is and whatever he does we reckon Myer knows dad. Check out http://campaigns.myer.com.au/FathersDay for more great dads and cool gift ideas.
This post is sponsored by Myer. Comments on this post are just for this post. If you want to talk about the IDEA of sponsored posts or the choice of advertisers please click here. We will be reading all those comments too for feedback.
Come and share your favourite moment with your dad or a moment shared between your partner and your child. The readers with the 4 best moments will each win a $500 Myer gift card, which is perfect to spend on you and dad this Father’s day. Photos are welcome! You must be a Mamamia member to enter. Competition closes 31/08/2012.
Comments
165 Comments so far
Were the winners announced so we can all read the winning entries?
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My Dad is wonderful, and he’s always been there for me, even when he’s had to live away from home to work. He’s rather stoic, but affectionate
I have hundred of treasured memories of him, but my most precious would have to be from when I was 5 years old:
I had to have an operation to have grommets put in my ears, and for that I needed to go under general anesthetic. It was a straight-forward procedure and all went well, but sometime post-op I half-woke, and it seemed as though I was alone in this never-ending darkness; I thought I was dead or in hell or that everyone had left me! (remember I was only 5!)…when suddenly I surfaced a little more, enough to open my eyes briefly, and who should I see through my tears but my Dad, holding my hand and never leaving my side!
That’s just a snap-shot of the man who has stood by me all my life, through the ups and downs, whether physically near or far away – my beloved Dad
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My Dad is the best bloke around. No doubt. He’s raised my little brother and sister and I after my Mum was killed in a car accident 10 years ago. He’s everyones go-to guy. There is nothing he doesn’t know!
A life defining moment happened earlier this year. One day after having heart by-pass (turns out raising three kids on your own does take its toll on the ticker) Dad was propped up in a recliner in the ICU looking and feeling like he’d just had major surgery. Nearing the end of my allowed visiting time, he said to me ‘I need you to do something for me. Go to the bottle shop, 2nd aisle to the right from the door about halfway down there’s a wine called Tempus Two. Buy it for *Step Mama* and take it home for her. She’s had a tough couple of days.’
I of course agreed and toddled on out of ICU where I promptly lost it. This bloke- the most loving, selfless, wise man had just had his chest sawed open, his heart fiddled with and then it all stitched up again less than 24 hours prior and he was thinking about his wife.
I learnt so much that day. The strength and resilience of humans (we so often underestimate ourselves), what true love is and can be and SHOULD be and in an instant, at 22 years old I realised that this is the type of love I deserve from a partner. No less.
That day, that time, that moment hurt so good. While my heart was hurting for seeing my Dad in pain, I thought I was going to burst with pride for this man who has been through the wringer and continues to put everyone else’s needs before his own.
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I love my father dearly because he taught me to always appreciate and enjoy the simple things in life.
Lunch was bread, feta cheese, olive oil, tomato and if we felt fancy some oregano. A treat after shopping at the fruit and vegetable market was a toffee apple. A snack after Greek school was a gyro.
I’m so glad he spoke to me about growing up during the second world war. Watching the German troops move through his village, a bomb destroying his school and any opportunity for further education.
The cupboards were empty and all he received for lunch was a boiled egg!
I can’t imagine what his childhood was like but he has given me perspective and what it means to have all the precious things in life like food, clothing and an education. Once you have these, opportunities are endless.
No material things will ever make you happy, but if like me my children have a home-life and childhood filled with love, the outdoors and laughter, I’ll be happy.
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My favourite moment would have to be all the times we were driving together as a family. This would consist of my little brother and I in the back, Mum in the front and Dad in the “drivers” seat.
These moments would happen when Dad seemed to drive erratically (in my Mum and my eyes!) You see Dad is an aggressive driver and often on long journeys, when Dad was driving this way, Mum and I would have a private joke and one of us would say “Look there’s one of those trees!” – which meant Dad was driving badly!
This all started over 25 years ago. Whenever we’d say it Dad would say “Where? I don’t know why I can’t see these “bloody” trees!”, which sent Mum and I into hysterics! He grew more frustrated as the years went by and he still couldn’t spot the funny short, “African” looking tree Mum and myself “saw”!
Every time we would do it, it became funnier and funnier and we would laugh our heads off!
These days I am married and when Mum and Dad come to visit I ask her if she saw any of those “funny trees” and she always responds yes! We laugh every time until our sides hurt and Dad says we are both nuts!
These moments are the happiest, funniest moment I have had with my Dad but if he ever finds out it has been a joke for over 25 years this post may well become the “worst”! ha, ha!!!!
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I have so many happy memories with my dad- he raised my sister and I because my mum was not capable. We helped him with the cooking and cleaning, made lunches together and had waterfights in the kitchen! He would take us to all of our sports and stay to watch- gymnastics, cricket, little athletics, everything. My favourite memory from when I was little is me chucking a tantrum because I had to go along to one of my sister’s cricket games in a town about 2 hours’ drive from home, and I stormed off because I was so bored. Dad came with me and showed me how to climb the big old weeping willows along the creek, we went from tree to tree, talking the whole way along. It was such a good day, from a really good childhood. My dad is still my best friend, we talk for hours on the phone and in person, no-one else ever seems to quite ‘get’ me the same way, and I never get tired of talking to him. I am so grateful that he was there for us when we were growing up, without him I don’t know what kind of people we would have become. He is amazing and I love him to bits!
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My dad is my rock. My mother and I have an emotionally charged relationship. I love her to death but we are so different that we constantly butt heads. Throughout the tempestous hormonal years (me getting them, mum losing them) Dad was the bridge that kept us talking. But it’s as an adult that my relationship with my dad really shines. I can talk with him as an equal, as a friend as well as garner fatherly advice. But rarely does he give it. Normally he just gives me the space and a kind ear that allows me to make my own decisions and then I get his unwavering support. He’s a quiet man (until he has a few scotches and then he turns into Enid Blyton – telling long winded stories). But most of all, what I truly adore him for is the relationship he has with my two kids (boys).
My husband wanted a divorce 8 years ago and he got it. Unfortunately due to some other emotional issues he wasn’t able to always be there the way the kids needed him to be and my dad, unfalteringly, unselfishly stepped into the breach.
My boys (now 13 and 9) have had the most amazing male role model in their most formative years thanks to their beloved pop and the ease in which my boys drape themselves over my dad, joke with him, play games with him and turn to him for advice and love is something I will always and forever be grateful for.
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I’m not putting this in to win, but I am a daughter of an amazing dad who has always been there for me and my sisters never took sides and always new the right thing to say and do, he fixed our cars made sure we were always safe, worked super hard so we never went without, could make or fix anything and made us laugh, he is also an awesome grandfather and I love that I was lucky enough to find a husband with the same attributes so our daughters can to grow up with the love and security I had and still do. Yay for the wonderful men in my life! Xxx
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What does my Dad mean to me? Everything – he is a hero. I had an amazing childhood and have always had a fantastic relationship with my parents and brothers but one of my earliest childhood memories is why my Dad is so special to me.
I was around the age of 4 and my brother is 18 months younger than me. I recall swimming in our pool whilst my Mum was out and remember Dad was chatting to a friend our balcony.
My next memory is running up the stairs to my Dad and telling him that my younger brother is floating in the pool, Dad rushed down the stairs, dived in, got him out, gave him mouth to mouth and revived him. I am now 27 and even though I have not yet found the courage to speak to my Dad about this incident, I am forever grateful to him for saving my brothers life. Maybe Dad wasn’t paying enough attention to us in the pool, I don’t feel that detail is important, what matters to me is that my brother is still here today.
At times growing up I always felt Dad was far too over protective – which can be extremely frustrating when you are a teenage girl (or boy)! I feel I have a better understanding of why Dad was always so over-protective and I reflect on this and it just re-confirms how much we must mean to him.
Maybe some people won’t feel this story is relevant but what I know is that my Dad is bloody amazing and I am grateful for every moment that my brothers and I share with him.
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My Dad is the most wonderful man on earth. He would do anything for his family and especially his children. He is kind, funny, cheeky and the most generous person you’ll ever meet. Attached is one of my favourite photos from my wedding day in April as Dad was about to walk me down the aisle.. I love my Dad so much!
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So many nice stories here – you are all so very lucky. I have a few nice memories of my dad but the majority of my memory is him constantly letting me down. He never came to school plays, athletics carnivals or parent teacher nights because he wasn’t interested – his words not mine. Same thing for my high school graduation. First day of college he dropped me at the door (the only reason he came was because I couldn’t take my car to college) and left straight away. I lived overseas for a year and he never called or even sent me a text on my birthday or Christmas. So in short what does my Dad mean to me? A demonstration of exactly what NOT to be when I become a parent.
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Thta’s really sad Jess. Just remember that you grew up to be who you are in spite of, not because of, who he is as a parent.
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My favourite moment with my Dad was watching him meet and fall in love with my baby son, his first grandchild. When I first told him I was pregnant, he was a little less than enthusiastic, claiming that at the age of 55, he was much to young to be a grandfather and paid little attention to my pregnancy stories as the birth loomed closer. All of this changed however, the moment he laid eyes on his little girl’s little boy. He is the most loving, caring, proud and amazing Grandad to my boys and now knows better than anyone – it doesn’t matter how young you are, or how much you don’t think you’re ready to be a grandparent – really you are ready at anytime!
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When I think about my dad growing up the first thing that comes to mind is that he would always hold my hand. Made me feel safe and loved and he always had a smile on his face when I entered the room.
I now get to watch him be the coolest pop to my 3 children.
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My dad was many things to many people. He was charming and warm and if he was at your place or you at his for a party, it was a party. He knew how to make people laugh and feel good about themselves. He was a chef in the kitchen filling his guest full of great food and wine and before the night was through his guitar and voice box would get a serious workout. He lived life to the fullest which was eventually his down fall as he died of skin cancer, at aged 40 back in 1994. He taught me how to sing in the car as loud as I wanted without feeling ashamed, and by watching the way he lived he taught me to breath in life and enjoy as much of it as I can. I miss him every time I see that same joy and exhilaration he had in his eyes most day, in my little one’s eyes! I wish you were able to stay around long enough to meet them dad. I know your looking down on us anyway.
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My dad passed away just over a month ago from a severe brain bleed. I did not get a chance to say how much I loved him, hug him one last time or tell him that he will forever be the most important man in my life. This wil be my first fathers day without him. I have fond memories of a big softie who would make milestones special. Not many children I know got a hand written note from their very own personal tooth fairy with some money. But Dad would take the time to write a note in tiny font, on a piece of paper not much bigger that a 50c piece explaining how delighted “she” was to receive the tooth and what “she” was going to do with it. So it was, that Dad created Twinkle Toes, Star Dust and Tinkerbell, as the tooth fairies who gave my sisters’ and I money and the much anticipated note.
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As my children lost their dad last year, every moment with my dad is extra special. A recent special moment was when my dad pushed my shopping trolley for me last Friday in the supermarket, shopping for food for my son’s 18th birthday party. He is 75 and recently had major heart surgery.
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There are two girls in my family, no boys, (Dad didn’t even luck out with a male pet) but once he concluded there were to be no male offspring he decided that wouldn’t stop him enjoying “guy stuff” with his daughters. There are pictures from when i was brand new, on the couch with Dad sitting on his lap watching all forms of cricket, rugby, Olympics, golf, you name it!
During my teen years Dad and I had a clash of personalities (hormones perhaps!) but the one thing we had that never changed was as soon as the Rugby/golf/afl/cricket/Olympics comes on, we’re best friends. Discuss strategies, coaches, players, injuries and lots of yelling at the screen (as if magically they can hear us!).
To this day i am an avid sport enthusiast, both participating and watching, all thanks to Dad. We continue to attend sporting events when i’m around and even when i was overseas he would call me each and every post match the Wallabies were playing in, just to catch up and discuss what went wrong and right! x
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My Dad is one of my best friends. We have always got on so well as we are very similar natured; easy going and phlegmatic. Its hard to choose just one special memory.
One pupil-free-day in High School he took me surfing. Mum was at work and my brother was in primary school, and rather than me being at home and lonely Dad took the day off work.
I was just learning to surf but I remember it being the most beautiful sunny blue-sky day, full of fun and laughter.
He was full of patience, as always.
I think he even bought us McDonalds for lunch (such a treat!)
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I have nothing but wonderful memories of my Dad. He had a heat attack and passed away when I was 9. Leading up to this, he had a pacemaker inserted and in my 9 year old innocence I had no clue of the gravity of the situation or how sick he was.
My Dad was told to excercise to ensure his heart remained healthy, all I knew is that my Dad was home and he was taking alot of walks. In fact, that is my fondest memory, Dad and I would go to the local park and walk laps together….hand in hand. I just loved walking and talking, he was always so interested in my day, in my dreams. Little did I know that those walks would be so short lived, but also what keep my memories of him alive.
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My Dad and I rarely saw eye to eye, however I have a very fond memory of a Daddy / daughter moment. I was 19 and learning to drive. I had once again failed my test. I told my Dad with tears in my eyes. He then said to me, “Come on hope in, we will go for a drive” It honestly was the last thing I wanted to do, but I got into the car. Dad then drove up a gravel road in the Dandenongs, came to a wide bit, and said to me, “I bet I can do a doughnut about here”. For the next ten minutes we spend spinning Dad’s Toyota Corona round and round. My Dad, the most straight laced conservative person I know did this for me. I will never forget.
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I only have one memory of my father that is happy so I guess that counts as the “best”. He was an alcoholic and a gambler and they were his first loves. I can’t remember how old I was, but at a guess I would say around 8 or 9. We all (my sister and my mother as well) went to the Botanical Gardens and there was a huge pile of fallen leaves as it was Autumn. Thus ensued a spontaneous leaf throwing fight which ended in all of us laying in the leaves panting and laughing hysterically. It was wonderful. It is the only time I can ever remember my father playing with me. The rest of the time (until I was 15 and he and my mother divorced and since then I have barely seen him despite the fact he lives 5 minutes away) was spent with him trying to avoid doing anything with me. He wasn’t an abusive man, but he was emotionally distant and lazy and still is to this day. So personally, my own father means very little to me. My husband is an amazing father and will make sure my kids never have to experience what I did and that they have to sift through years and years of wonderful memories, trying to decide which was the best rather than just having one as I did
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I fell in love in my last year of uni with a boy who lived 500kms away. I knew he was the one.
It broke my parents hearts that their little girl (actually 21 years old) wished for nothing more than to move to Mildura and be with him. But with no savings to set myself up I accepted it probably wouldn’t happen and I should forget about it. Plenty of fish in the sea everyone would say to me…
A couple of weeks after I finished uni, and I will never forget this day, Dad took me in his ute to a big department store. He bought (with tears in his eyes) a new fridge, washing machine, TV etc etc. A week later he loaded them all up on his ute and drove them all the way to Mildura. (Mum cried the whole way)
They (reluctantly) left me in Mildura, to follow my heart. I have now been married to this boy for four years and have two beautiful children.
I owe my Dad the world for this and will treasure that generous act forever. x
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My favourite moments with Dad were always my birthday parties. Dad was the ultimate party games master. He’d create entire mazes made of strings with little gifts tied to the end, where each child had a paddle pop stick and followed the string to their treasure. For my fairy party, he painstakingly jigsaw cut pieces of wood into stars and wooden sticks so we could make our own fairy wands (before the days of pre-done craft kits at Lincraft!).
He created gold, silver and bronze medals for my Olympics party, and stood the winners of Olympics style games on handmade podiums.
The attached picture is me at my Disney party, excited that I won the big prize in pass the parcel! I didn’t realise that Dad had planned for me to win it
. He truly made my childhood an absolute fantasy, and I am forever grateful for it!
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My dad loved planes and flying,and in fact had learned to fly. We grew up knowing all about aircraft call signs” and what the numbers and letters on planes actually meant. When my son was growing up we lived near Mum and Dad so he got the benefit of my Dad’s interest as well.
One day my son ( aged about 6) was at my parents home. I arrived to collect him for my Dad to say ‘come and have a look at this’
We went out to the carport and to my horror, saw that young son had written a ”call sign’ with liquid paper on Dad’s trusty Holden in the appropriate spot!
Dad was quite tickled that the grandson had paid so much attention and the call sign was never ever removed from the vehicle for the life of the car!
What a precious Dad. I miss him so much.
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Funny/fun experiences of camping and getting out and about to the outdoors when growing up!! One memory was at the WarrenBungles when dad decided it was good to pull up in the middle of whoop whoop and pitch the tent. It was pitch black and very hard to see but we managed- of course us kids were whining. After he fixed up a fire for a barbecue he went to spice up the chops with worschester sauce but it was washing up detergent :/ !!! Us kids were in hysterics with laughter. We ate it lol- is that child abuse?
Another memory was when he bought home a brown snake :/ and kept it in a box for a while- Many wonderful experiences of getting out about amongst the outdoors!!! Dad grew up in the City and took the family to outback. I think he must of seen it all as a bit of an adventure!!
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Mum & Dad separated when I was about 7 yrs old. Dad was an alcoholic. Selfish, moody & someone who was really only ever home in body, not in spirit. We saw Dad regularly over the years when he visited our family home (he was never allowed to take us anywhere as he’d lost his licence years earlier). So my memories of him are limited. The one thing that does stick firmly in my mind however, is a time when I was 26yrs old. I’d gone to visit Dad & noticed how thin he was looking, how frail. This took me by surprise as I’d always thought of my Dad as a big, strong man (as we all do). We chatted about nothing much in particular, but when I left he did something I could never remember him doing before in my entire life. HE HUGGED ME. That was the last time I ever saw Dad. Shortly after, he went back to his family home in southern NSW to “visit” his Mum. What I didn’t realise was that he was going home to die. Somehow, all of the snippets of my childhood memories of Dad have slowly faded away, replaced by this one, poignant moment.
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My Dad is the reason I can change a fuse, a tyre, an opinion. He’s the reason I put 100% into everything that I do and the reason why I strive to be the parent to my son that my Dad was to me. He’s also the reason why I am petrified of spiders, why I treat anyone who says “pick a hand” with suspicion, why I say “bing” everytime I close a sliding door and why I shudder everytime I hear The Seekers. I smile when “Dad” comes up on my mobile screen, I worry when he goes for blood tests. I treasure the moments when Dad becomes Pop and interacts with his grandson. I love my Dad and don’t tell him often enough. Every moment with my Dad is special.
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I wish my dad was still here. I remember one of the last times we spent together. I remember it as a good time, my mum not so much. It was 1993 and my parents had been separated for about 3 weeks. Dad decided he wanted to take my siblings mum and I for a day out to science works. Coming from a poor family it was so exciting, dad had decided to take us to maccas to get lunch on the way, and we all got happy meals. I still to this day at 30 have my Barbie toy.
We had a ball at science works and dad was so much fun, but little did I know, He had threatened to my mum he was going to drive off the west gate bridge with us all, becaue he was so depressed over their separation, and very suicidal. Less than 3 weeks later dad followed through with his threat less than 2 and a half weeks later. Scienceworks is one of the best moments I can remember with my dad. Fathers day is always really hard and with it almost being 20years since he died doesn’t make it any easier.
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After coming home from the hospital with our son, my husband noticed that he had his double jointed toes. He seemed more excited about that than the actual birth!!
My dad is weird. Awkward. Always late. But also the first man I loved. He told me all about the ‘menstrual cycle’ (hilarious now that I think about it) while mum was overseas and put photos of black lungs on my bed when he caught me smoking at sixteen. Good work daddy-o!
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My dad passed away when I was 8 but I still smile when I remember my favourite moment with him. My mum and I had been fighting over the fact that I hadn’t cleaned my room (a common occurence) and I had shut myself away in my room to cry and mutter about what a horrible mum I had. Dad came in to check on me and I declared that I was leaving home as I couldn’t live with Mum anymore. He said that was fine but he was coming with me as he couldn’t let me go all by myself. We even made plans about what we would do and where we would go.
I will always remember how that made me feel…that he loved me so much that he would leave everyone just to look after me. I’m 34 now and that memory is still crystal clear.
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My Dad is a very typical aussie bloke that doesnt often share feelings – I mean sure he says he loves us but its in a passing, hang up the phone, “ok love you bye”. When I was getting married and we drove to the church it was silence in the car but he held my hand the whole way. I was so choked up with emotion I could barely talk and he knew if he spoke I would cry and ruin my makeup. My Dad never showed too much excitement – until the day I told him he would become a Grandfather. He was beyond excited – my entire life I have never seen him so happy and thrilled with anything. He didnt know what to do first – he tried to call my Uncle, hug me, congratulate my husband and open a bottle of champagne to celebrate – all the while walking around in a circle not quite sure which order to act out the above. Dad came with me to a doctors appointment and for the first time in my life, I saw my father cry when he heard the heartbeat of his first grandson. Such a special moment I will have with my Dad.
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After spending 5 weeks in hospital suffering from “normal” bleeding, I gave birth to my son Jeremiah at 18 weeks gestation in June this year. Through my whole time in hospital, my dad made sure I had what I needed, helped out getting my other two children to all their commitments and having them overnight when I needed my husband to stay with me to keep me sane and fend off the loneliness. After three days of induced labour that just wouldn’t get things going, my doctor told me I needed an emergency caesar and I was wheeled to the theatre within twenty minutes of being told. Knowing my dad would want to know, I sent him a message saying things were happening fast and I would see him afterwards. He must have broken land speed records because somehow he made it to the “do not cross” line near the operating theatre to tell me he loved me before they wheeled me in. Over the next few days many people brought gifts, cards, flowers…but I will never EVER forget what my Dad did. Our baby boy was named Jeremiah and I had told my family he would be “Mummy’s little bullfrog.” Knowing that leaving the hospital with empty arms would be the worst day of my life, my Dad bought me a stuffed frog to cuddle. The most thoughtful gift from the most thoughtful man, who in his own grief still thought of how he could lighten my burden. I love him so much.
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My father hasn’t been, really, in my life for some time. So, I will share a special moment(s) that I had with my Grandfather.
I had just started a Construction Management Degree at Deakin Uni and was struggling with a subject that centered around maths. I’ve never been good at maths but was determined to learn what I needed to do well in the subject.
Knowing that my grandfather had been in various trades over the course of his life, I enlisted his help. He drove 3 hours (each way) every week for 10 weeks to help me with my assignments and studying for my exams. You know someone loves you when they are willing to make a committment to someone without recieving anything in return. Or so I thought. I remember sitting down with my Grandmother at the end of the uni semester (after having passed with flying colours) and she said that my grandfather had a twinkle in his eye he had not had in many years and it was because he was needed. Here I was thinking that I was the one getting the benefit and yet we both benefited from the experience…just in different ways.
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I’m fortunate enough to have a great dad a great step-dad and a wonderful father to our new (and first daughter).
In 2010 I was to marry the man of my dreams, but I wanted both my dad and step-dad to walk me down the isle to my wonderful husband. Dreading having to ask my dad, I plucked up the courage and asked how he felt about sharing the honour, as by that stage both had been in my life for such a long time. My dad so willingly agreed and on my special day my step-dad walked me into the church and halfway down the isle to my Dad, who ten walked me to my now husband. Such a wondeful memory and all my friends couldn’t believe that’s what happened.
Then in May this year we welcomed our first child (daughter) into our lives, my husband was there all the way. I was knocked out completely (general anaeasthetic) for delivery but when I awoke and was taken to my room my husband was there, with a smile so wide, hiding our daughter who was peacefully resting.
It wasn’t long until both my dad and stepdad were also there to share the moment.
I’m one lucky lady to be surrounded by such wonderful husband, dad and stepdad and my daughter to have such fantastic dad and grandads.
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My experience isn’t a moment but rather that I actually have a dad…or a step dad to be precise. As an only child to a single mother for much of my early years, life wasn’t always easy and often quite lonely.
But then my step dad become part of our family and we’ve had many fantastic times together. He has and continues to be a source of many happy moments and for that, I am forever grateful.
Few things are ever about him, his focus is always on others….except on Father’s Day when I love to make it all about him as a reminder just how much he’s contributed to my life.
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Father figures don’t always come from a biological father sadly my father was abusive and a disinterested male presence in my life.
Luckily I have the good fortune to have a grandfather who is my male inspiration.
He is a kind good hearted 95 year old who loves all his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He has suffered through the loss of his parents, siblings and sadly my mother in his life yet has always been upbeat and a shoulder to cry on, never once taking any sympathy but always giving it.
He has loved and adored my grandmother for 61 years (taking her a cup of tea in bed everyday of their marriage). It is impossible to describe all the great things about my Grandad in this post but if I ever meet a man even half as good i will marry him in a heartbeat.
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I guess I can’t really enter as my dad passed away 12 years ago. For the last 12 years Father’s day has been a time of reflection and some sadness, although now I have a daughter it is also a time to celebrate my wonderful husband who is an awesome father.
The last time I saw my father alive is my favourite memory to reflect on. I was about to embark on a long overseas trip starting in November and ending in February and organised a Christmas lunch with my family before I left. I wish I’d known those were to be our last moments together. He passed away in January unexpectedly and I had not seen him since November. I remember laughing over that Christmas lunch, reminiscing about old times and talking about my overseas adventure to come. He was so excited for me and had helped me prepare for my trip.
From my father’s sudden passing I learnt that we never know when lives will end. All we know is what we have now. So now it the time to say what needs to be said. To ask what needs to be asked. To do what needs to be done. For tomorrow might be too late. xx
Enjoy your father’s day with your fathers everyone.
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My favourite memory of my (step) dad took place when I was an adult. He and my mother had recently separated so he was a bit down (rock bottom actually). It was Fathers Day and I asked him what his plans were, he told all of us kids not to bother coming round and just enjoy our sundays. I nagged and nagged until I convinced him to meet me near my place so we could go for a walk. I lived near sydney harbour and we went for a really long harbour walk and just chatted about anything and everything. We then went for lunch and then headed over to my local pub where there was a pool comp in progress. He told me he hadn’t been to a pub for years. Before we knew it, we’d had a few schooners, joined in the pool comp and more importantly, laughed and laughed and laughed. It was a fantastic day. He had tears in his eyes as we said gooodbye.
The next day at work some flowers arrived for me that he sent, along with a letter thanking me for just spending the time, he said that was the best fathers day gift he had ever have received and he hadn’t felt so happy for years. He felt he could believe in himself again.
He went on to start dating again, met a lovely lady and enjoyed a few years with her.
We are stil very close and I often think back to that day, and what it taught me…which is that sometimes, the best gift we can give is actually time.
Since then, we live in different states but when he visits we always go out and watch a musical together and go for lunch or dinner. Or we watch football together. Anything really.
I’ve always felt very blessed to have such a great friend as my step-dad.
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I remember in my early 20′s when I got my first full time job as an intern at a busy Sydney hotel. I would start at 5.30am and finish at 9.30pm. My Dad would always be up to make sure I was awake and drive me to the bus stop in the freezing cold. One day I had gotten to work and thought I had forgotten my lunch. I looked in my bag and Dad had packed me a bread roll wrapped up in so much Glad Wrap that I never thought I would find the bottom. Eventually I did and on top of the roll was a tiny little note that said “I love you”. Made my day
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Being dad’s little girl all my life, I used to follow him around and I still think he is the bee’s knees (bee’s have knees he used to ask me)! But my dad’s “give it 100%” attitude is something that I to this day cherish. If I had thought I did badly on a school assignment or didn’t make the time I wanted in swimming squad, he would just simply ask “did you give it 100%”? If I said yes, he would simply say “you have given it your best” or If I said no he would again simply state “why would you expect to receive 100% if you didn’t put the effort in”! WIse words, I use this when I think I am struggling with anything in life, I just think “am I putting 100% in, well why do I expect to get that out”! Man of little words but you get so much out of his advice.
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to be completely honest, I love my Dad, don’t get me wrong, but he never really has time to spend with myself or my kids, they have never slept over there, he’s never taken them out for a weekend, to the movies or for lunch.
My best memory is going to the Football with him one year, that would be over 13yrs ago, that was the last time we did something together, just the 2 of us.
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Sitting on my Dad’s shoulders and walking around the motor show together. I was a big tom boy as a little girl. We have a great bond.
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Girls don’t need their fathers and are better off without them. Who wouldn’t support the Australian mother who kidnapped her 4 girls from their father in Italy so they had no contact with him for 2 years. The girls don’t want to go back. Why would a girl want or need her father?
Who wouldn’t support Katie Holmes keeping Tom away from Suri?
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You have to be a troll. Kids needs support networks and loving parents (regardless of gender and labels). And while there are poor parents (of both genders), a child’s emotional need and love work outside what we adults consider.
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Father’s play a big role in their children’s lives. Of course there are always going to be poor fathers, but there are also poor mothers too.
Fathers can be a great role model and show a girl what she can expect from a man (partner) later in life & how she should expect to be treated, and demonstrate to a boy how to treat woman and guide their development into manhood.
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Rollerblading. Making lunches. 2 hour long treasure hunts. Letting us paint his nails. Surprise sandpits built overnight. Taking us windsurfing. Cubbyhouses. Netball training. Swimming training. Touch football training. Building 3 story doll houses. Name a parental task and my dad not only did it, he set the benchmark for it. I could create a list of endless amazing things my dad did for my sister and I but the thing he has always done the best is to make us laugh.
Since I can remember, whenever my sister and I were alone with our dad he would pretend to be a Russian spy. In a terrrrrible Russian accent (that bordered on Irish) he would curl his lip and tell us he was not our father he was a spy from Russia sent here to find out what Australian children were like. Rolling his ‘r’s he would call us ‘verments’ (he insisted it was a real word) and forbid us to tell our mother. All the time. And it never got old.
I turned 23 the other day, and when I was standing in the kitchen with my dad after family dinner who do you think wished me a happy birthday? My old friend, the Russian spy with the hybrid accent, “happy birthday ye little verment”.
And it still hasn’t gotten old.
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I truly had the best dad a girl could ask for. He was my hero and I adored him. Devastatingly he passed away a few weeks ago. My dad was the kind of guy people always described as a true gentleman and a genuinely good person.
He was a stay at home dad until I started school and he and I have always been close. We shared an embarrassingly similar sense of humour and could often know what the other was thinking. He was a fitness fanatic and a truly inspirational dude. He was the one who taught me how to ride a bike and to swim and that trees were there to be climbed. He was always there to be my training partner, coach and cheer leader when I needed him. But most importantly he was the man who taught me (by example of course) how important it is to always be kind and patient and loving, to be compassionate and strong and brave and confident, to be realistic but eternally optimistic, to be caring and just to be a good person and to laugh lots.
It is because of this amazing man who has taught me so much that I have had so many unforgettable adventures. He is why I am lucky enough to have an amazing family and he is why I have ended up following my dream of helping people and becoming a paramedic. I was lucky enough to be home with him when he suffered a sudden and massive heart attack and I was honoured to be the first in a long line of people doing everything they could to save his life.
I am 24 and my dad was barely 60 and it may sound strange but I really feel that I am lucky that I can’t actually choose my favourite memory or moment with my dad as I have way, way too many to choose from.
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My dad is from Glasgow and in his younger days was known to be a little hot tempered and somone not to be trifled with (despite his small stature!) I know he wanted boys to go roaming over the hills with and take on fishing trips with his brothers on Loch Lomond, but what he got instead was two little girls.
But since the day we were born, he has literally done anything to keep us happy. One of my favourite tales involves Dad babysitting while mum went on a shopping trip for Xmas presents. It was Scotland, and the middle of a freezing winter, but my sister and i loved swimming and splashing around in our blow-up paddling pool during the summer months. Clearly, we must have been begging to swim because when mum came home, my sister and i were frolicking in the paddling pool…. in the middle of the living room floor. Dad had filled up the pool with warm water from the kettle (goodness knows how many trips he made back and forth) and had covered the carpet with every towel we owned. Needless to say, Mum wasnt happy.
Its just one example of the great lengths my dad has gone to, to make sure we are happy and could have everything in life we want. Although he isnt perfect, he is definitely the perfect dad. Im getting married next year, and one of the things im looking forward to most is walking down the aisle with my dad, in all his Kilt finery!
He has worked away since i was six, but this is the first year in a long time that he will actually be home for Father’s Day. We are looking forward to spoling him rotten, as he has always spoiled us. Love you dad x
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Its very simple, my dad came to visit last week…. (I’m 32 married with 3 kids) Mum watched the kids and dad came food shopping with me……. We had a really nice time talking up and down the supermarket isles.
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Growing up my dad wasn’t around much due to his work, he was an interstate truck driver, but when he was we would often watch documentaries together or he would take me out some place new to discover, I called them excursions. I learnt a lot spending time with him and it was hardly ever boring and always different. I appreciate the life he gave me and all he taught me and only wish that I had treated him better when I was a teenager with the respect and love that he deserved. I now have passed on my experience with my father onto my children. We watch docos together and I take them to new places to explore.
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I don’t have one but I use my sisters- Dad used to sit on the lounge with her & watch Betty Boop. This is her favourite memory of him & I’ve adopted it & imagine them both in this scenario when I want to feel better as they are both far away from me.
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It’s astonishing to think of all the things my dad has done to make me happy, which I could have never truly appreciated until now. There are two examples that spring to mind right away.
When ‘Titanic’ first came out, I was 8 or 9 years old, and because it was rated M my parents refused to take me to see it (and rightly so). This was absolutely devastating news to me, because I was completely in love with Leonardo DiCaprio at the time (and assumed the feeling would absolutely be mutual if we ever met) and believed would simply DIE if I couldn’t see his devastatingly cute face and floppy blonde hair projected onto the big screen. I wasn’t even remotely interested in the plot of Titanic (I mean, duh, the ship sinks), I just needed to see Leo. So having been told no, I went to bed heartbroken and in tears. Within minutes Dad came in to comfort me and I sulkily protested that no, dad, of course I wasn’t crying over Titanic. After he and mum went to see the movie a few days later, they decided most of the M-rated material would go over my head (“Hmm… why is there steam in the back of their car?”) and thus it wouldn’t kill me to see it. So my dad sat through those three long hours again with me the following day. Even I couldn’t bear to watch that film twice in 48 hours now – but my dad didn’t utter a word of complaint.
He secured his Coolest Dad Ever status by taking me to see Spiceworld: The Movie when it was released the following year. Again, only now can I appreciate what a generous gesture that was. Love my dad!
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