As a kid growing up you may see your dad as a superhero, and mine is exactly that. I call my Dad a superhero for a few reasons; his selflessness, dedication, generosity, and strength. I grew up with just one brother, and the connection between him and my Dad was obvious. The sports, hunting, and other common interests bonded them close together. However, I never felt neglected by my Dad. Most girls aren’t very close with their Dad’s and some don’t have a relationship with them at all, so I consider myself very fortunate. Having a relationship with your dad is a unique kind of relationship in a sense that it is not always openly verbalized, or shown through time spent together.
I know my Dad and I would both prefer I go shopping with my mom, and he doesn’t really care about the latest teenage girl drama. Sometimes a strong bond is shown without words, but instead by having a shoulder to lean on. Or by the small unnoticeable sacrifices made to make your life better. Or by listening to the drama even though they don’t care. Things like these show love stronger than the words themselves. One of the most valuable things that a Dad can be is a good example. I can be sure that my Dad’s selflessness and dedication will inspire me to be the best person I can be. He has already had a heavy influence in my university choice (his alma mater), in my work ethic, in my perfectionist qualities, and in my determination. He has also inspired me to take risks and follow my dreams.
I say my dad is selfless and dedicated because he made the difficult decision to open his own company. He did this to create jobs in our local community, and also to create a good life for our family. This is something that was never easy for him, but I could not be more grateful for it. Being such a strong entrepreneur is definitely a quality to look up to.
Him doing this opened my family up to many opportunities. Sometimes it is hard to truly appreciate a father-daughter relationship, but trust me when I say there are things you need him for. You may not realize until it’s almost gone, but there are things that go unnoticed. Who will scare past or future boyfriends, who will teach you how to clean a fish or gut a deer (ok maybe that one is just us), who will help you make the toilet stop leaking, or help you file your taxes, and who will walk you down the aisle, or be your children’s favorite Grandpa?
Things like these are things I encourage women to appreciate. It is hard for me to put into words how grateful I am for my Dad and all he’s done for me. While some father-daughter relationships are temporarily lost, or irreconcilable; mine is something I will cherish forever.