Different countries, different celebrations for Dads. In some countries, including the U.S. and Philippines, this falls on the third Sunday of June. In parts of Oceania, including Australia and New Zealand, Father’s Day this year falls on the first Sunday of September. Spring has started: the plants are in full bloom; the air, just the right humidity. I saw on the news that trailblazer Dick Smith has just been named Father of the Year. In other news, dead eye Steph Curry spoke out about the need for gender equality. These are extreme instances of famous dads who seek to make the world a better place, but what about your old man?

Relationships

Smith has said that gender roles are now more blurred than ever. Whereas before the husband was the bread winner and his spouse, the homemaker, these are increasingly subverted. I remember one story from back home where a man recalls how his father taught him a lesson about stuffed buns as they ate. To this day, whenever he removes the wrapper underneath the bao, he thinks of his dad (since deceased). In this day, having both parents together while growing up is a blessing. In the west, the lifeline of divorce has splintered more families than necessary. People are simply becoming too impatient to prolong familial relationships. I salute the Philippines for being a rarity in outlawing divorce. I find it admirable that they would not cave in despite others falling like dominoes. 

‘Setting a good example for your kids’, this is fatherhood in a nutshell. Smith would know: he juggled family life while being a maverick entrepreneur. His daughters may have kids of their own, but he gave them a solid foundation. Some keys to model parenting: teaching kids the right language, instilling good values, promoting independence, and highlighting the importance of a quality education. Whether you’re a dad at nineteen or thirty nine, whatever your job title may be, if you make your family smile, you’re a hero. 

Imprints

All dads, if they’re around, would leave some kind of imprint behind. I would be shocked if you lived with him for years and he has no influence whatsoever. From a young age, good fathers would show their affection for his kids. This means not buying every toy, but rewarding his offspring when they do good. This includes not bolstering their ego, but correcting their mistakes so they’ll learn next time. This entails not making the house a pit stop, but sharing meals as a family. This involves not encouraging his children to spend with a vengeance, but teaching them to save for tomorrow. A fine dad would have no gap between his ‘constituents’ and would welcome them with open hearts. They could talk freely and he would support them, ‘from dusk til dawn’. Communication these days in the family is so underrated, with the influx of wizard technology. We have become strangers in our own homes. As we eat and spend quality time together, we respect one another. 

Lessons from Dad

You might be wondering why I know all this. No, apart from being a cool cat, I know this because those are things my Dad taught me. They shape us into the persons we are, so that we could do likewise in the future. They fought our battles so we could fight on our own. Since then, I have learned more and more on my own. I remember before how I didn’t see it, but my dad inculcated upon me to choose my friends carefully. Later on, years after, I saw his point. Sometimes it might not be crystal clear, but Dad saves the day. 

You might not be Dick Smith or Steph Curry, but from Mot Juste: a Happy Father’s Day to all !