There’s always that one person in our lives that has a huge impact on our upbringing, and helped us become the person that we are today. And to many of us, that person is our father. He is a parent, friend, teacher, and guidance counselor – all in one. A father is a child’s first role model. He is a hero that you can look up to. With Father’s Day 2020 coming up on the 21st of June, we wish to commemorate all the fathers across the world. This is why in today’s article, in the spirit of Father’s Day 2020, we will be telling the story of fatherhood; of how men become heroes.
A Child Is Born
This is one of the most significant events in anyone’s life. One single event changes everything. The once carefree young man suddenly is transformed into a father. Yes, you signed up for this. You knew what was coming. But no man can anticipate the extent to which their life would change. Hanging out with your friends in shopping malls. Gaming and watching movies in your free time. Forget all that. You are now a father, with a precious baby to take care of. There is no such thing as free time.
You have to feed the child, change diapers, and do everything in your power to ensure that your precious child is safe and sound, like childproofing your home. After all, babies are some of the most fragile creatures on Earth. And it is your duty to be their protector. But one smile from your precious child makes all of it worth it. These moments are priceless. It might seem difficult at first, for you and your partner. All those tiring days and sleepless nights. But in the future, you’ll look back to these moments and cherish them.
The Teacher
Children are very impressionable. And quick learners too. From being toddlers to the teenage years, this time is the most important. This is when they learn the skills and behaviors that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. It is crucial that they receive proper guidance and counseling. And not just in the matters of education. This is when a child picks up many behaviors and habits. It is the foundation of the person that they will become in the future. And a father’s role in all this is instrumental.
A father can teach many things to a child. Starting from teaching his child how to say ‘Papa’ to swimming in lakes – a father can teach anything. A child always looks up to their father and picks up on his behaviors. This makes it important that, as a father, you are always on your best behavior in front of your children. It is also important to balance discipline with care. Playing with your children and telling them stories of when you were their age would bring them closer to you. Teach your children to not only be the best versions of themselves but also to be happy and have fun.
Growing Pains
This is the time that you wished your children always stayed the small, precious children that you remember them being. But they grow up to be teenagers, who have a better understanding of their surroundings but are internally conflicted – unsure of who they are and who they want to be. And for a father, this is one of the scariest times. You have to tread carefully with every decision you make regarding your children. This is an instrumental time for both their upbringing and your relationship with them.
Adolescence is as confusing for a father as it is for a child. Your children want to do one thing today, and something totally different tomorrow. Their dreams and aspirations. Your dreams and aspirations for them. They might not be similar. There will be many clashes. But at the end of the day, you will have to let them find their own path, and yet, guide them at the same time. Make sure they aren’t hanging out with the wrong crowd. It’s such a fine and delicate balance between enabling them to be more independent yet watching over them.
Letting Go
Your child has grown up. Off to university. With time, they’ll learn to look after themselves. You will still be an integral part of their lives, but at the same time, you will have to let go and let them be free. Within a few years, they will start looking after themselves, have a job, create a family, and even go through the magic of fatherhood, just like you did. You will become a grandfather, that has the joys of being a father, but maybe a little less extreme responsibility.
You spent a big chunk of your life looking after your children. Now it’s their turn to look after you since you have grown old. But remember, though you may not be their guardian anymore, your children will still come to you for advice. You were in the same place as them. You had to make the same decisions. But one thing will never change, you will always be their father, their hero, their role model.
So this is what fatherhood looks like in the most simple way possible to write down. This year, things are different. Father’s Day 2020 will not be like others before it. But it doesn’t mean that you cannot celebrate with your one true hero. So remember everything your father has gone through on your behalf and make Father’s Day 2020 a special day for both you and your dad.
