Excelle

In honor of Father's Day this coming Sunday, I thought it'd be nice to share the lessons we've learned from our dads. Both professional and personal!

Over the years, not only has my dad taught me about the value of education, of celebrating life's small joys, and of sunscreen's vital importance, what sticks out most is how my dad has supported me throughout everything I've ever done (except for maybe asking for his financial support to get a personal trainer the summer before I went to college - that didn't go over so well!). From pursuing gymnastics until I was 12, to choosing my mom's alma mater over his, he's been there every step of the way with a smile. :) Because of his constant support and amazing parenting, he modeled for me the kind of love and support that I want to pass along to my future family.

How has your father influenced you?

My dad was a auto mechanic, so I picked up so of the skills of doing my own spark plug and sparkplug wire changes, oil changes, check fluids. He also was a home improvement type of person, picked up some house repair skills as well!

My Dad has been my rock. He's always supported me when I needed it (financially and otherwise), taught me to appreciate what I have (because it's so easy to dwell on what you don't), and to respect myself and have high standards. He also tried to teach me the following, with varying degrees of success: 

- It's best to have 3 layers of internet security on your computer. You just never know.

- Always drive 5 mph below the speed limit

- Buddy Holly was the greatest American rock n' roll artist of all time

- Why make an omelette when you can just make a scramblette

- No amount of convenience is worth paying for

Dad taught me about integrity, commitment (especially to one's family), loyalty (worked for one company from college internship to retirement), and being responsible for one's actions.

My dad always encourage me to succeed in my goals and ideas. He is always available for me financially, emotionally and all.....Im happy I got the best father ever.He helps me have a confidece on things I do, no matter few ppl discourage me for purpose. He taught me to be the best women I can be,and here I am:)

My dad was born in 1898, so I grew up with the old ideals of how a man should treat a lady, manners etc.  From him I inhereted my sense of humour, he saw a positive side in everything, and in the worst scenario there is always a silver lining.  He told me that Fear itself is worse than what you are frightened of, and that I should always be true to myself and to others.

He also taught me how to shoot, walk throught the woods without crackling the twigs and how to draw beer from the barrel, and how to drive.

He died in 1998 still with all his marbles and sense of humour and I miss him still.

 Stay away from men in the military.  

But seriously,  I can't stand my father, but he did teach me how to drive a stick shift.  My first car was a stick shift (I was 16yrs old) and I'd never driven an automatic car until I was 18 year old.  It was really weird and still is.  I never know what to do with my left foot and my right hand now.

Thank you DANA_B for breaking that ice! I was looking on here to see what people said. It made me wish I had a dad. Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and feelings. Dad's sound nice.

Dana, no you are not alone on here, it is nice to know I am not either. My dad died when I was 2 and I never met him. I cant collect the SSA because there was no paternity and he is creamated. He died in a self started fire while loaded on heroin. I had 5 step dads, all were not very nice, I wont go into detail, you can let you imaginations wander. They will probably be the right assumptions. Anyhow, I did not know any grandpas, or uncles. I did have a few run ins with some perverted male folk.

But there was one nice male role model in my life. He is my GOD! God I think has the ability to be both male and female, but he is my dad, my father.

1. God has taught me to be brave - no matter what!


2. The truth will always come out and in the end


3. what goes around- always comes around.


4. He has taught me to always answer that voice of conscience - or the result will be bad.


5. He has taught me to trust in him when I dont know what or who to trust.


6. God has taught me to always, always, lend that helping hand -because if you dont you will feel bad-- and if you do when you need help it will be there in return.


7. God has taught me that fathers and mothers alike are human- they error.

Some are sick individuals who should not have the right to working anatomy to bring forth children. But had the man who was my biological dad not met my mother, God would have found another man to be my dad. Because each of us has a lesson to learn and each of us has a purpose. God's purpose. Sometimes life is not fair -- mine is rarely fair-- but it is what it is. Id like to know a dad, a good mother, healthy children, a functional family background, relatives, and happy childhood memories -- but what my father God has taught me is that in his time I will be shown those things. Not in this life time maybe, but I look forward to the day when I can lay in his arms and he shows me what should have been.

Maybe this can help other like us who do not have dads or a good dad to talk about. I hope you can adopt this theory to your mind, it does bring up the chin!

My father taught me to always buy quality. He was referring to tools mostly. Spend the extra money to buy a good, solid, quality brand- Stanley, Craftsman, Black and Decker. Don't scrimp and save $2 buying cheap screwdriver- because you will just end up replacing it later on and spending twice what you would have if you had just bought the tried and true brand. 

** I have expanded this lesson to also include alcohol. If I am going out, or stocking my bar, I buy the premium brands. They make for better, smoother drinks. Belvedere vodka, Bombay Sapphire gin, Makers Mark whisky. Spend the extra $5-10 bucks and buy the premium. In the end I will have a better party- and a better morning after. Quality over quantity.

My dad taught me the value of  working hard to reach goals and not spending more money than you earn.  Each pay day, he deposited money into his savings and retirement  accounts.