Sentimental Thread ... post a loving childhood memory about your dad.

[mrsdash]

Originally posted by Saffron
Oooh, mrsdash. I'm sorry if this brought up sad memories , I hope it also brought up some beautiful memories. Your story is very touching.

All these stories are very touching. I love each and every single one!

Oh nooo !!!!! It is people like you who take the time to respond to my post that help me through this. Thank you so much.{hugs}mrsdash

 

[Mad4Mickey]

I know this is not in the spirit of the thread but I the best thing I can remember about my Dad is him leaving us when I was 8.

 

[bsnyder]

My dad was a true work-a-holic. He'd leave at 5:00 in the morning, long before anyone was up, and he often didn't get home until late at night. He also traveled out of town a lot. He wasn't very involved in the day to day parenting. But he still had a huge impact on our family life, because of his larger than life personality.

One of my favorite memories is our annual trip to the Florida State fair. For some reason, this evolved into an activity (one of the few) that we kids did with him, and not with my mom. He let us ride any ride we wanted (he even let me take a helicopter ride one year!) and eat all the gooey junk food we wanted to eat.

As I got older, the relationship became more interesting. He is a great kidder, and loves to make outrageous bets. My senior year in high school, our football team was expected to be terrific. So he bet me at the beginning of the season...for every game the team won, he'd pay me $10.00 (which was a lot of money to me!) and if they lost any games, I had to be his slave for the week. Well, the team went 10-1, so I won $100.00 but the week I was his slave was a week I'll never forget. It started on Sunday night, after the game. He had been out of town for the weekend, and he called me from the airport to tell me to be waiting on the front steps to carry his bags into the house. The rest of the week I had similar chores...he'd wake me up in the morning (at 5:00) to come in and tie his shoelaces, or he'd call me into the house from outside, to change the channel on the television set. He did silly, goofy things like that all week long!

I'm so blessed that I still have my dad around (72 years young) and that he's in such good health.

 

[oldkicker]

I lied to my Dad.

I told him that I wasn't throwing the dog's bone back and forth with the other boy and that I didn't know why the dog had gotten all excited and had bitten the little girl.

I was just five. I mean I had just turned five.

He picked me up and sat me on the kitchen counter. I remember realizing just how much bigger he was then I was. I felt bad about lying, just as soon as the words left my mouth.

He knew I had been throwing the bone back and forth and that I had gotten the dog all excited and that it had gone off and snapped at the little girls when she tried to join in with us.

I had never lied to my Dad before. I'm sure I felt that he would be angrier if I admitted to what I had done. It was stupid and I worried that he would tell me so.

I didn't want to get yelled at for causing the whole thing.

Instead, he talked to me about trust and love.

He talked about how he always wanted to be able to trust me and that he hoped that I would always trust him. And that he would love me no matter what.

I cried a little bit and told him the truth. He told me why the dog acted the way it did and that I should never tease a dog again.

The whole conversation took maybe three or four minutes, but it still echoes.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I have two that come to mind...

One was when he would take us to a drive-in movie and my sisters and I would be in our PJs. I used to love when he would take me to the swings up by the huge screen and push me. Loved it!

The other is my 13th birthday. My Dad sent me 13 long stemmed red roses on my 13th birthday. My Mom said he was all sentimental because I was the youngest of three girls and turning into a teenager. I think that was the sweetest thing he ever did for me!!

Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez...I MISS him!!

 

[ColoradoBuffaloMom]

I've been reading everyone's wonderful memories all night with tears in my eyes and trying to think of a story about my dad-finally I remembered one...

I grew up in Arizona but went to college at the University of Colorado in Boulder. (This was 27 years ago) I am the oldest kid and the first in my family to go to college since neither of my parents went to college. My parents drove me up to Boulder and stayed a few days to help me move into the Residence Halls and just make those required to trips to Target and everything else that starting college entails.

Well my dad was constantly taking pictures of me and he isn't really a picture taker. I think it was finally hitting him that not only was I going to college but that I was going to college 900 miles away from home. I was excited but nervous but didn't want to let my parents know I was a bit nervous and scared so all the time they were with me I just put on the happy face and held it all together.

Now remember I'm the person who cries at Hallmark commercials so not crying and being strong was not easy. Anyways all was fine and it was time for my parents to leave. I said my goodbyes and we all hugged and I didn't really cry. They left and I was ok. Well two seconds later who comes to the door but my dad to say "Bye Kid and I love you" which he never says. Boy I just lost it and was crying like a baby. He just held me and told me all would be fine and I told him all would be fine. I think we were trying to be strong for each other.

To this day I can't tell this story without crying. Thanks for letting me share.

Elise

 

[elmosmom]

Growing up there were vey few gifts outside of birthday and Xmas. We had moved to the city and I really wanted a bike. Mom said No, I would kill myself. While the rest of us were away visiting Grandma Dad bought me a nice 26" bicycle. I rode that bike everyday,it was a wonderful gift.

Even a greater gift came years later
when I was grown up. Dad had always been a people person but he just didn't know how to talk to his kids. We felt far away and maybe a little unloved. A few days before his death he was lying on his side as I rubbed his back trying to relieve his pain. I said, Daddy, I love you. He lifted his head and turned to look at me and said, I love you too.
It does not seem like much but it still means the world to me.

 

[aunties]

My dad wasn't the huggy type, not did he say much, but I always knew he was there for us. I was a competative baton twirler. In the 70s (OK, my age is showing) there was gas rationing. He would sit for hours in lines at several gas stations just so he could make sure he would have enough gas to drive me to competitions. He would sit on hard bleachers, listening the blaring marching music for 8-10 hours a day! He never made a comment whether I had a good day or a bad day. The first time I went to Nationals, I came home with several medals. Other than "Glad you had a good trip", he didn't say a word. Several days later, my medals were missing. I couldn't find them any where. My mother found them in his shirt pocket! He had taken them to work to show everyone! He commented years later that he often liked going to the competitions because it gave him an excuse to get out of things he didn't want to do.

Miss him lots!

 

[mickeyboat]

I remember a lot of great things about my dad...

We played bucking bronco - where we would climb on his back and he would try to buck us off. I swear he would play that for hours.

He taught me to fish. We had a little boat with a motor and a fish finder. We would sit on the lakes in MN for hours fishing. One time we were having a lot of luck but the skies were getting dark. We waited til the last minute and it downpoured on it. We high-tailed it back to shore but we were soaked.

I went to college about 30 minutes away from my parents' home. My dad would pick me up after work on Fridays when I came home for the weekend. I always knew he was coming down my dorm hall because he would swing his keys back and forth - I knew it was him. He also would fill out rebate forms and have them sent to me I was always surprised to find a little extra cash in my mail box.

Denae

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I was daddy's little girl. And I'll share a few memories

At family gatherings he would protect me from older cousins who would fight over who got to sit next to me at dinner. My dad's answer was to place me between my mom and him. LOL

One time I took a very nasty spill on my bike. It was totally my fault, I was riding down a pretty big hill without holding on. My front tire hit a rock, my bike landed in the grass, I landed in the middle of the road. OUCH. My dad was doing some yard work and heard my screams. Mom was out shopping. Dad ran down, picked me up, carried me home and tried to deal with my wounds as best as he could. I was pretty much one big scrape from my head to my feet on my right side. Road rash is not pretty. I still have asphalt in my knee to prove it. Anyway, dad washes out my wounds, patches me up (somewhat) and decided that the best cure will be hot dogs for lunch. I guess I should also mention I bumped my head pretty bad. I had a nice lump! My mom came home, took one look at me eating my hotdog (hey I guess I WAS hungry) and just about passed out. I was promptly loaded into the car and taken to the ER. My poor dad though, he dealt with it the best he could. Turns out I was fine and I wasn't happy getting my wounds scrubbed out (OUCHY OUCHY OUCHY).

He taught me how to play softball, even though he was dying from cancer and didn't have much energy.

My dad tought me to be a fighter, to stand up for what I believe in. When my dad was diagnosed with cancer he started with chemo. When it became apparent that his treatments (even his expirimental treatments, the perks of working as an electrician at a state-of-the-art hospital) would not help his QUALITY of life, he decided that it was not for him, and quit treatment. His fight was
to lead a QUALITY life, not quantity. And my dad worked up until three months before he died. I am always amazed by that. He was a true fighter.


People look at disease and death as a bad thing, and while it is, I learned so much about my dad and myself as a result of it, that I can look back and see positives. Also, the greatest gift my daddy ever gave me is knowing that one day I will see him again in heaven.

 

[SetzKitten]

My dad was very much a hands-off person. He worked a lot and went to school and we were in bed by the time he got home. But Sunday nights were special in our house. Papa would make home-made pizza and we would have a family dinner. Then we'd all go into the living room. My sister and I would sit on his lap while we watched Wild Kingdom and Wonderful World of Disney. My sister and I would eat our pizza crust that we saved from dinner. It was so wonderful.

 

[Maleficent13]

I don't have any stories that I can really share, but the best thing about my dad is knowing he is a person that I can absolutely, categorically trust. There are a lot of well-meaning people in my life, who sometimes do things that they think are "best for me" when they really aren't. I never have to worry about that with my dad. He either really, truly knows what's best for me, or he waits for me to tell him.

You rock, Dad!!

Oh, yeah...and I'm spoiled too...just ask my mom...

 

[HoneyPooh]

I'm the baby of a family of six and grew up with all the good and bad of being the "baby". My dad was one of those dads who was "pop" to every kid in town. My dad was 52 when I was born so he was almost more of a grandfather figure to most of our friends. He had more sons and daughters than he knew what to do with . Anyway, my dad was very good at making me feel like something other than the baby. Something special he did for me until the year he passed away was to make me a homemade birthday card every year. He would take a piece of cardboard and some crayons or colored markers and start drawing. He wasn't a very good artist and the cards looked pretty much the same every year but they were the best present I got every year. I have every one of them and recently when I moved I took them out and looked at all 31 of them. My name is Leann but most everyone calls me Lee and spells is with two e's but on every card my dad spelled it Lea. He always said everyone else was spelling it wrong! Every card started with Dear Daughter Lea and ended with Love, Dad except the year my mom died. She passed away two weeks before my birthday and my dad was a mess. I didn't expect a homemade card that year but dad surprised me and handed me one. On the bottom he had signed it "Love, dad and angel mom". He was the kind of dad who would make you hot sweet tea and prepare a hot water bottle when your "friend" visited .

 

[Saffron]

Oh my gosh. These stories are just beautiful. They all show the true meaning of love. All have made me smile, some have made me cry and the "hotdogs to make it all better" story cracked me up.

I hope more people post their memories.

Mad4Mickey and Mickey's sunshine If you have someone who made some loving memories with you, past or present, please feel free to share them here if you want. We'd love to hear them.

 

[clutter]

I'm very fortunate today. I really have no sentimental or happy memories of childhood. My family was way too stressed out, so most of my memories, especially of my father, evolve around the stress. But this man has turned into the most amazing grandfather, and I have so many wonderful memories of the time and love and attention that he's given my daughter. The two of them are just such good buds.

 

[grinningghost]

Hmmm... My Dad and I have always clashed, but there are some fun moments. My Dad was always at his best when he was being funny (which was often). I remember he would watch "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood" with me everyday. He knew every character on the show and their storylines. In fact, to this day, he can still tell you all about it.

I know in reality he was probably thinking the show was awful, but he managed to find humor in it and probably did it just to have something in common with me.

My Dad also taught me to drive. My first day out he took me to the East Side of Buffalo to drive. There were ALOT of bars there. We made a stop at several so Dad could grab a beer. Was he taking advantage of having a "designated driver" or just calming his nerves? Stupid memory, but it was time alone with my Dad.

 

[NMAmy]

Well, now I'm all teary eyed from reading these! What wonderful stories. Dads are pretty special.

I was my dad's favorite--out of 3 girls I was the only one just like him. He was a buffer between my mother and I (we love each other--we're just very different and don't understand each other) and I think that's been the hardest thing since he's died. I don't have my dad there to get my mom to give me a break.

My favorite memory is when my dad taught me to draw. He was an artist and an architect. Even though I'm not anywhere near as talented as he was, he taught me how to draw houses with proper perspective when I was a small child. How to look at the way shadow and light played on different objects and to incorporate that into a picture. He also made me a card from the Dum Bunnie every year for Easter (even as an adult and then for my daughter when she was born). I treasure those little cards and saved them all.

He was also an incredible cook and anytime I make one of his recipes--it brings him back so strongly. I can feel him in the kitchen with me, giving me directions (bossing me around!) We called him the anal retentive chef--he was the only person I know who could make 100 meatballs all exactly the same size and perfectly round. We drove him crazy by being "slapdash" cooks. He was such a perfectionist and just loved having people to create things for. He taught me that caring for your family is the most important thing you'll ever do--no one will remember how well you did your paying job, but your children and family will always remember what you did for them.

I miss my dad every day and I know he's watching over me.

 

[HollyJoy]

What a great memory you have! I have way too many to pick just one that stands out on this board. My Father was a very thoughtful and giving man as well. I miss him terribly.

 

[nuke]

I was the youngest and the only girl in the family and I was always Daddy's Little Girl. (still am)

One of my earliest memories is sitting on my dad's lap watching Hockey on TV. I always watched sports with dad but especially hockey.

I can remember following him out to the garage to "help" him fix the cars. I knew how to bleed brakes, change tires, change the oil and spark plugs before I was in high school.

My dad worked two jobs my whole childhood. He would work one job in the middle of the night a couple days a week. Some Saturdays he would come home in the morning and bring us candy from one of his stops.

When I was about 13 and into softball big time, he bought me my first bat, ball and glove. In high school we would go to Great America the last weekend it was open and ride all the rollercoasters over and over-just the two of us.

My favorite memory is when I graduated boot camp from the Navy. As I marched past the stands in formation I could hear my dad's voice loud and clear "Way to go Jeanine"!

 

[missypie]

DH is a SAHD and my kids get so sick of him. It would really surprise my children to read all these posts about dads who were "hands off" or "rarely home." (I"m just hoping that my kids don't think the same thing about ME when they're grown, since I'm the one who goes off to work every day.)