Fatherhood

  This week, I had the opportunity to reflect on the roles and importance of fathers. As I did so, I could help but think about my experiences with my dad growing up and how grateful I am for him. Although I didn't recognize it growing up, moving to the other side of the country for college has helped me see how much my dad has done for me and how much I cherish his example. While we still have our arguments and disagreements from time to time, I appreciate that I have such a strong paternal figure in my life when many men don't step up to the role of fatherhood.

As I thought about some of my fondest memories with my dad, one of my favorites was the daddy-daughter Saturday night activities we would have when I was growing up. When I was younger, my parents would take turns spending a Saturday night alone with each kid. No matter what my dad and I did that evening, I always had fun because it allowed us to bond with each other and helped me see how much my dad cared. Although money was tight, my dad made every moment count. These experiences became especially meaningful to me when my dad began working long hours far away from home at a financially difficult time in my family's life. While I wasn't seeing my dad as much as I wanted to, I had reminders of these important moments with him to hold on to and remember. 

Another thing I have always appreciated about my dad is his spiritual strength. Although my dad distanced himself from religion when I was little, his return to the church and constant faith and attention to his testimony is a powerful example. My dad is the kind of person who can turn any conversation into one about the scriptures or the Savior. While this was sometimes annoying to me growing up, especially when what was supposed to be a joke quickly turned into a lecture, my dad helped spark my interest in reading the scriptures and developing my relationship with God. As I have gotten older, I have gained a deep appreciation for my dad's leadership in this way. Instead of going full-on bible thumper with my siblings and me, he and my mom always led by example, encouraging us to grow our faith as we got older. 

Finally, I have always appreciated my dad's support of us and our interests. There's nothing more special than having someone that believes in you and is willing to stand by you when you need it the most. My dad tried to be at events that were meaningful to my siblings and me. Although he missed one occasionally, he would always ask us about it later. In addition, whenever we had practices or preparations, he would always take time to ask us about our experiences and would look for ways to support us in our efforts. By showing us he cared, my dad helped us reach our goals and helped us to see potential in ourselves that we might have missed.

Unfortunately, we live in a time where many people's perceptions and experiences with fathers are often heartbreaking. For many, these experiences and perceptions have scared them out of parenthood or marriage. I recognize that my experiences with my dad aren't as normalized within our society as they should be. However, if there's one thing I have learned in this life, it is that change begins with you. While you cannot control the actions of others and the devastating effects they produce, you can stop them from carrying on into your generation and future generations. We need more great fathers in this world, and that effort begins with us.