Daddy Dearest

Well in my memories it is again that year, when you make some breakfast, and go up to your dad with or without a neatly cooked, wishing him Good Morning. He stops, thinks for a minute (about his own dad, I guess) and then smiles before talking it; making you feel that you are extremely fortunate to have him as your father.

The ritual of celebrating male parenting and fatherhood began in 1910 (shortly after Mother’s day was established) when Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, wanted a day to honour fathers, like her own, for their commitment, love and affection to their families. It was first celebrated on June 19^th 1911, by the young members of the YMCA who went to church wearing roses: a red rose to honour a living father, and a white rose to honour a deceased one. Dodd travelled through the city in a horse-drawn carriage, carrying gifts to shut-in fathers confined indoors by illness. But the day was ridiculed and met with criticism everywhere and it was only in 1966 that the ‘third Sunday of every June’ came to be officially known as Father’s day. Decades later, this year father’s day again falls on 19^th of June making it as very special occasion.

For most of us, our fathers are one of the most important people in our lives. For daughters, fathers are the first men they adore and fall in love with. While for sons their fathers are the strongest person they know and someone they aspire to emulate. They are in fact our first heroes. When we are kids they teach us to go ‘vroom’ when they ride their bikes or scooters. They take us shopping and secretly slip us some candies when our mothers are not looking. They attempt to teach us maths and English only to abort the project in five minutes, when we make a puppy dog face and claim that we are either hungry or sleepy.

Being Daddy little girl/boy only becomes difficult in the teenage years. Your friends get questioned (rather grilled) regularly. Your clothes, hairstyle all get scrutinized and permission to hang out with friends or watch a movie doesn’t come easy. Your dad either becomes your best friend or worst enemy.  Though we know that all that they want is our happiness and well being it does take another five years to realise that. Then ten years later, Dad is once again a hero, the best man in your life, for you realise that but for his wisdom and guidance you would have been nowhere.

I remember the words of Anne sexton, ‘“It doesn’t matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was”.

If your father, was the man I mentioned above (or even better) take this opportunity to show him your gratitude for the wonderful man he been. If you have ever hurt him or gone against him (however right you were at the point), apologise and make it up to him. If you have any misgivings about him, let it go and forgive him, for it makes you a better person. This could be the greatest gift that you and I can give our fathers.