Things I Learned from My Dad

Last year, I had to chaperone some high school students on a trip to Singapore. Many of them had already travelled, but few of them had travelled without

their parents. One of the things I had to do was help give an orientation to the students on tips for ensuring their safety during their travels. As my colleague and I were preparing for that orientation, I jotted down a few things I had learned in my travels and realized that as I was doing so, I heard my dad’s voice in my head.

Many of the things he said, I eventually passed on to my students. Things like: don’t put your money all in one place; make sure you have the hotel address on hand all the time; and host of other little things that have just made travel easier.

I realized that I don’t hear my dad’s voice in my head only when I travel. I ‘hear’ it in many important aspects of my life. And many of them are such a part of my routine that I don’t even think about them anymore. It was my dad who taught me how to match clothes, to choose fabric and to write my signature among other things. He also taught me not-so-useful-but-reallyfun tricks like picking up things with my toes, a few jackstone tricks and winning at pick-up sticks.

One of the most important things that I picked up from my dad is my work ethic and my love for education.

As the son of a public school teacher he taught me that my education was a gift. It was he who helped me with my homework and it was he who coached me in declamation contests. And it was he who taught me that anything worth doing is worth doing well and that hard work pays off.

Another thing that I realized lately is that it is my loving and open relationship with my dad that enables me to have healthy friendships with men. And having these friends in my life make it so much more meaningful.

I am old enough now to understand that my dad isn’t a perfect man. I don’t always agree with him as I am sure he doesn’t always agree with me. But I am old enough now, too, to understand how difficult it is to be a good dad for an imperfect man. But my dad isn’t just a good dad, he’s a great one.

And so on this day when we celebrate the gift of fatherhood, I celebrate my dad, whom I love very much. I also celebrate all men who do the best they can in raising their children with love. And all spiritual fathers who gave up the chance of having their own children so that they can be more available to the Church.