Fathers & Sons
my brother, my dad, and me
In honor of Father’s Day, I asked a few of my favorite (young-ish) men to write about being a dad, being a son, and their thoughts on this holiday.
Enjoy their stories. I know I enjoyed reading them.
I tended to dismiss all the warnings about how terrifying, frustrating and challenging fatherhood would be. I also never appreciated how hilarious and rewarding it would be. All of which are true. But seeing three little kids grow and develop on a daily basis has been an unbelievable experience and being able to share it with my incredible wife has made it even better. It is hard to explain how motivating and fulfilling it is to be greeted by three little gremlins in the morning, but it's the best part of my day and I would never change it. To all the fathers on this father's day, keep killing it. You are doing awesome. And to all the future fathers, you will be great. Enjoy it.
Billy S.
I was blessed to have two great father figures in my life, my Dad and my grandfather, and no two human beings have had bigger impacts on who I am as a person. The interesting and amazing part of the impact these two have had on me is that while they were close, they were very different people, with starkly different backgrounds, hobbies, interests, skills and viewpoints on life. I truly believe these differing perspectives gave me variety in opinions, in guidance, in development and truly allowed me to learn so much more about different topics of life – in short, it truly made me a more diversified human being. I am very grateful to have had such incredible men to aspire to and revere, and the fact that I could get such varying perspectives from two of my best friends was such a bonus for me personally, and my growth as both a child and into adulthood.
Jack B.
I always wanted three kids, but my wife wanted only two. Well we “compromised” and ended up with 3 kids and only 2 pregnancies when we were shocked to find out we were having twins. Not only that, but the twins would be our second and third boys all under the age of 2. Needless to say there is no preparing you for that craziness. We are constantly hit with the question “how do you do it?!” My response is always the same, “there is no “doing it,” you just “do your best.” One thing I always tell people is there is no advice I can give them and no book I can give them to read. All I can say is that each child is their own unique person who has their own specific needs, personalities and interests. You quickly learn that how you raise one will not be the way you raise the others. Though this can certainly be a challenge, it is also what makes it so rewarding! Each relationship is unique and allows you to learn how to be a well rounded parent and to grow as a human. One day you’re worried about what your needs are and the next your sole focus is enjoying your time with your children and helping them develop, have fun, and mainly helping them survive the dangerous situations they put themselves into every ten minutes! To Wild Man Wellington, Hilarious Henry, and Affectionate Arthur, thank you for making me a dad. But more importantly, thank you for making me a better and more fulfilled man.
Cal D.
There is a value exchange between a father and their child. A father should strive to instill the best characteristics of themselves and those they admire. The child, unbeknownst to them, reminds their father of the joy, compassion, and love that kids so effortlessly find in everyday life. In the end it isn't the father that is teaching, it's the child that teaches them to remember what is truly important.
Hunter B.
I became a father for the first time almost exactly one year ago. Being a dad to Chase is the single most rewarding thing I have ever done. Watching him smile and hearing his laughter is the best high I have experienced, although if we are being honest, I wouldn’t wish hearing him cry for two hours straight on my worst enemy! In the last year I have realized what’s really important and what is not, I have had to prioritize the things and people that matter the most, first and foremost my son and my amazing wife. I have also spent a lot of time this last year reflecting on my parents and how I was raised. It has made me even more appreciative of my parents and all they sacrificed for me. Thank you to my dad for the example that he set and to Chase for showing me the absolute joy that comes from being a dad.
Micah H.
If you ask anyone about my dad there are probably two things that they all will mention - how hard he works and how much he loves his family.
It was always understood that whenever my sister or I called, we were to be put through. That is true to this day. We may be in our mid 30’s, but if we call, we can count on our dad picking up. Even if it is just to tell us that he is in a meeting and he can’t talk. I am usually not calling for any particular reason, and can only imagine what I used to call about when I was kid - probably to get permission to do something my mom wouldn’t let me do - but those calls were a small example of how we knew that we were his first priorities even if our dad wasn’t always physically around. So while there may have been some missed family dinners or sports games, that is not what I remember from my childhood. I remember knowing that we could always count on our dad. As someone who also wants to continue to build a successful career while having a family, I am grateful to have a role model who taught me how to do both.
William P.
