Things My Daddy Taught Me {Notes From the Eternal Daddy’s Girl}

My dad is pretty perfect. (Can you say that without it being weird?) Let the record show that I am not just saying this because he is my father. If you met him, you would also agree with me! Because he is humble, introverted, and often speaks when he has the wisest things to say. They say that girls marry men just like their fathers, and I can say this is true without a shadow of a doubt. While my husband Steve may not always have my daddy’s rational or calm temperament, I believe that is something that can come with age.

My dad was raised by my grandma and his four siblings. He had to become responsible at a very early age because he and his brother were surrogate men of the house, so there wasn’t a lot of room for even the most trivial of childhood nuances. My father and his siblings were raised in a super-loving home, and although my grandmother worked often, there was always food and family insights.

Daddy has always been quiet. He says very little, but when he does, hold for the reaction because you may miss something. Growing up, my dad was always transparent about everything with my brother and me. He allowed us to say what we needed, and if we didn’t behave as we should, his disappointment was enough to correct any behavior.

My father has imparted so many words of wisdom; although simple, it’s lasting and he has always led by example. Here are three things he instilled in us that we will continue to carry on for our families:

Be Kind to People

You never know what people are going through. My daddy is kind to everyone he meets, and the reason is simple – there are so many things that can go wrong in life, but you will never regret being kind to someone because they may really need it.

Help People Often

This doesn’t solely mean financially as much as being there for people. Listen to people, show up for people. Your presence can mean more than any present.

Watch What You Say

I can count on my hand the number of explicative’s my daddy has used in 40 years, a far cry from my everyday use. Once things escape our mouths, we can not take them back. If it can’t help someone, think about if you need to say it.

I’ve always said that I don’t deserve the parents I had. They worked extremely hard and provided us with structure and love. My father has sometimes held down multiple jobs to ensure we had everything we needed and wanted. Now he is entering a new chapter of his life, that of grandfather, and eventually retirement so he can get the rest he truly deserves. So on this Father’s Day and every day, I hope that Daddy knows how much I love and appreciate him. He will shy away from all of this but Daddy; you deserve every bit of the praise you receive.