Your dad is a very special person. It was something that I did not really have in my life. My father passed away when I was 14 and had been sick and bed ridden from the time I was about 5 or 6 years old. There was no ball playing or him attending any of the activities I was involved in. In fact there were very few activities for me. My time was spent as a young person when not in school as a caretaker and a baby sitter, even when I was very young.
Having said all of that though, and after watching the reports on TV about the passing of Tim Russert there are a couple of thoughts that come to mind. I hear too many children of all ages, including Tim, that report that their dad was not one to tell their children that they love them, to actually use those words. I have that memory too. Now I am not sure how true it is, but I would think that my own children would probably say that too. As a dad I am going to make a commitment to myself to not just demonstrate love in what and how I do things with the kids, but actually say the words – not in passing – but in a meaningful way, often.
Fathers Day is a special day for telling dad you love him, but maybe it can be a day for dad to think about how we as fathers interact with our loved ones and especially our children. HAPPY FATHERS DAY!