OT ***Father's Day thread***

[#1DieHardHawk]

With Father's Day coming up, I thought I would take a moment to salute all the dads on here. With all the bickering and posturing that's been going on, I thought we could all come together, take a collective breath, and share some dad stuff.

I got married late so my kids are a little younger than what would be expected for being in my mid 50s. That's both a blessing and a curse...

My dad? Well, I won't go there, so I'll share some stuff about my kids. My focus is to be better than he was, and I hope my son will be even better than me.

My daughter is 15. Like most teen girls, she can be extremely challenging, but she also can be delightful and funny when she wants to be. She's been a gymnast, a cheerleader and a swimmer, but has settled into diving. We are just trying to be patient waiting for her to get over the teen "hump," and the, "I know everything so leave me alone" attitude, but it's far from easy. I just hope she and I both live to see it.

My son is just turning 14. He's mildly autistic and suffers from ADHD, and can be equally challenging in his own way, but everyone falls in love with him. He just has that "soul" you look for as a parent. He loves sports and actually is quite good at basketball, but he gets easily overwhelmed emotionally with the "chaos" of team activities. That's been the struggle, but he's making strides with assistance. My goal is to get him out fishing several times this summer and perhaps some camping.

I know that there are a lot of dads on here, so have an enjoyable time tomorrow with your kids and your dads.

 

[HuckFinn]

Thank you, Die Hard!

 

[Denverhawk1]

I’ll bite on this one. I became a dad later in life as well. I am 45 with an 11 year old and a 3 year old. My dad was a worker. It’s what he did. What he taught us, probably more than anything. Work hard, work harder.
My mother in law asked me what I wanted for a fathers gift. I said nothing. I don’t think I need a day to be celebrated. Just a good day. I like to do stuff around the house, workout, hang out with my wife and kids. That’s a great day to me.
Happy Fathers Day gents. Y’all make a difference to someone, somewhere.

 

[Motigerhawk]

Dad of 2 girls. One is 20 the other 18. They were born 18 months apart. It has been a joy raising them. And now they will both be out of the house.

Happy Fathers Day to all.

 

[Grady]

My father was all of 5'4", but he never asked us boys growing up on the farm to do any work he didn't do. What a great example not just for me, but also for my 2 sons who are now 33 and 30 -- so glad they were able to be raised within a mile of my Dad on the family farm. Happy Father's Day, everybody!

 

[ChosenChildren]

Father of 4. They are all grown now, but we are enjoying the grandkids. When you are a Dad, you are a Dad for life.

The most disappointing thing to me about what has been revealed regarding Iowa football is the thought that these kids who have suffered all have parents who believed that these coaches had their children’s best interests at heart. My God....the Iowa coaches need to treat ALL of these players like their own children! Yes, discipline is important, but it has to be combined with compassion! Treat these players like you want other teachers to treat your own children. There are some things more important than winning.

 

[RobHowe]

Happy Father’s Day, gents.

I was a later starter. We have 15, 13, 10 and I’m 53. They’re my world. I worry about their future in this world but am hopeful.

 

[HawkGold]

6 kids. 3 boys 3 girls. 2 still at home. The blessing of 6 is that I can always find a couple not upset with me at the moment. 2 likely are. It changes. Being a dad...great joys. Very painful at times. My dad was terrible. Tried to be a great dad to my kids. Not an easy job.

Was at a funeral today. My friends lost their 2nd child. 1 left.

Wish all of you a good dad's day.

 

[eyekwah]

Father of 4, 2 girls then 2 boys. The youngest now is 40 and the oldest is 47. My wife and I are happy that we had all 4 by the time we were 30. I found time to do little league and soccer coaching with them. It was lonely for a while when the last one left for college, but as teenagers they were not around much as they had jobs after school. There are two kinds of people in this world, those who work to live and those that live to work. I'm kind of the latter. Even at 72+ I have to have projects even if they aren't paid. They count on me to help them out if something needs fixed. That is my reward knowing that I'm needed.

My relationship with my father as a youth and as an adult was vastly different. He came back from being in the Pacific during WWII and didn't complain, but the effects of his 4+ years really impacted the family. He would have periods of depression at certain times of the year that would lead to a drunken stupor, which was embarrassing as hell for me. He wasn't an alcoholic or negligent about providing for us, but he made my mom's job of raising us more difficult. I would learn later from an older cousin that his behavior was a direct result of combat events. As he and I aged, I became more respectful of him.

If you were born in 1913, which he was, his life's setting was not conducive to much of a chance economically. He left school at 14 and worked as a farmhand thru the 30's and then got drafted in 1940 and exited duty in November of 45. Basically he had 21 years of his adult life affected by economic depression and military service.. Throughout his life he was never bitter. As an adult I realized much of his life was beyond his control and now I am appreciative that he gave me life to reward him with 4 successful grandchildren..

I hope those of you that didn't have a father around or harbor dislike for the one that was are able to come to terms with it without bitterness. Happy Father's and Grandfather's Day.

 

[Fryowa]

Happy Father’s Day, gentlemen.

I’m 39, dad died in ‘07. Vietnam vet of two infantry tours, 23rd Americal (not part of My Lai, my dad detested the stigma). Flew home into Washington state and the first words anyone said to him stepping of the plane was getting called baby killer despite never being stationed anywhere near Calley’s platoon. Said Vietnam was the most important and educational experience of his life and he’d do it again without question. Hell of a nice fucking guy too. He got to know my son for about 7 months before he died, which I’m thankful for every day. Some humble words of advice to folks here of advancing age with young grandkids....

Take pictures. Lots of pictures. When dad died we were getting ready for the funeral and looking for pictures of him and my son, and to our astoundment, we had a grand total of one photo, taken about three weeks after he was born. It was just something we never thought of. Never thought dad was gonna die at 57. Take lots of pictures, and make relationships with those grandkids. Move if you have to. I never met any of mine.

Hope you guys had a great Father’s Day and hope you got to spend time with your dads or your own kids.

My son (13 now) and I spent the day fishing together, shooting the shit about nothing in particular, and we just fried up a limit of bluegill. Sat on the deck to eat and enjoyed the weather, and now we’re going to watch his favorite movie, Groundhog Day, and eat ice cream.

 

[HawkeyeWalker]

44 with 7 year twins, boy and girl.

They're letting me watch golf today.

Happy Father's day all. Be Well.

 

[justwinbaby]

Happy Father’s Day. Good to hear your stories.
I’m almost 53. I have twin daughters that just graduated high school. One is going into the Air Force and the other has been accepted to the U of I college of nursing.
A few years ago we started over by adopting sisters ages 5 and 7. I’m too old for this.

 

[SmokeTownHawk]

Happy Father's Day, Hawks. I'm 63 with 2 kids, a son and daughter, and two grandkids. I don't see them often enough, maybe once or twice a year. Amazing how time flies after they leave the house.

 

[ssckelley]

HFD!

Unlike some of you gents I got started early, I was 20 when my oldest daughter was born and she's now 27 with a son of her own. My 2nd oldest daughter is 20, she also has a little one (boy) while taking online classes to be a teacher. My 2 boys are still at home, one will be a senior and the other will be a sophomore. So I get the best of both worlds of being a dad of kids still at home while also being a grandpa. My oldest son just got himself a girlfriend, it's amazing how different it feels from a daughter getting a boyfriend (I hate him, don't want nothing to do with him) to a son getting a girlfriend (bring her over, I can't wait to meet her).

 

[Northside Hawk]

Happy Father’s Day, gentlemen.

I’m 39, dad died in ‘07. Vietnam vet of two infantry tours, 23rd Americal (not part of My Lai, my dad detested the stigma). Flew home into Washington state and the first words anyone said to him stepping of the plane was getting called baby killer despite never being stationed anywhere near Calley’s platoon. Said Vietnam was the most important and educational experience of his life and he’d do it again without question. Hell of a nice fucking guy too. He got to know my son for about 7 months before he died, which I’m thankful for every day. Some humble words of advice to folks here of advancing age with young grandkids....

Take pictures. Lots of pictures. When dad died we were getting ready for the funeral and looking for pictures of him and my son, and to our astoundment, we had a grand total of one photo, taken about three weeks after he was born. It was just something we never thought of. Never thought dad was gonna die at 57. Take lots of pictures, and make relationships with those grandkids. Move if you have to. I never met any of mine.

Hope you guys had a great Father’s Day and hope you got to spend time with your dads or your own kids.

My son (13 now) and I spent the day fishing together, shooting the shit about nothing in particular, and we just fried up a limit of bluegill. Sat on the deck to eat and enjoyed the weather, and now we’re going to watch his favorite movie, Groundhog Day, and eat ice cream.

Absolutely take those pictures. When the grandparent is gone there will not be any more opportunities.

My maternal grandmother passed the love of sports to me more than either of my parents (still alive) ever did. When ESPN recently had the Chicago Bulls "Last Dance" documentary it reminded me that I got to see Michael Jordan play in his prime (and in person at CHA in 1986 for a Bulls preseason game). When I talked to my sixteen year old about watching Jordan in his prime it reminded me of my grandmother telling stories of listening to White Sox vs Yankees games in the 1930's when Babe Ruth was playing.

When she was dying in the summer of 1991 her youngest grandchild was on the way. She knew she was terminal but said there was no way she was going before that grandchild was born. It was no sweat, he was born with ten days to spare. My grandmother passed away that year on August 17 but was able to get pictures with my infant cousin.

My paternal grandmother passed away in 1967. We had one picture of her and myself as a toddler that was displayed in a photo collage on my wedding day in 1997. The picture was lost or misplaced after the wedding and I haven't seen it since. Probably will never see it again.

I now have a grandson of my own. Dude is nineteen months and already loves fishing. Three weeks ago we had a four generation fishing date. My 75 year old dad, who is in poor health, me at 54, my 22 year old son, and my aforementioned grandson. When my daughter in law had us pose for a picture I struggled to maintain my composure. My dad is COVID-19 vulnerable. He has fished since he was four. It was probably his last fishing excursion.

My kids are now 22, 20 and 16. I would be a different person without them. Happy Father's Day to yourself and all the dad's out there.

 

[BILLYBOBSTEXAS]

With Covid still here, my wife and I have stayed close to home. But for Fathers day I talked my youngest son to come down from Dubuque and join us. I made baby back pork ribs on my Pit Boss smoker. They were fantastic! We kept our distance and he left after 1-1/2 hours. It was too short of a visit but it still made my day!!!!!!!!!

 

[kicker22]

I'm fortunate enough to have all 3 of my kids under the age of 10 and at the home. Covid has been a curse and a blessing for us. On the bright side we're home much more and don't go out nearly as much so we get to spend a lot more time together than we used to. On the downside...we get to spend way too much time together. That said, good times or bad, I can't imagine what the house will be like down the road when they are on their own.

 

[Fryowa]

That said, good times or bad, I can't imagine what the house will be like down the road when they are on their own.

That's where I'm at. I'm not married, no partner, and I just have my kid who lives with me 50% of the time. In 5 years he'll likely be hitting the road and I have no clue what I'll do when he's not around. The walls will close in real quick. He and I are great friends and very close; even more so than a lot of father/sons that I know.

I've started to resign myself to the fact that I'll be quitting a job I really really like and have had for 17 years to move wherever he does. At the same time I reeeeeaaaaally don't want to start over at 45 which is how old I'll be when he's done with HS, but whatever. I'm not going to sit at home and stare out the window until retirement either.

 

[kicker22]

That's where I'm at. I'm not married, no partner, and I just have my kid who lives with me 50% of the time. In 5 years he'll likely be hitting the road and I have no clue what I'll do when he's not around. The walls will close in real quick. He and I are great friends and very close; even more so than a lot of father/sons that I know.

I've started to resign myself to the fact that I'll be quitting a job I really really like and have had for 17 years to move wherever he does. At the same time I reeeeeaaaaally don't want to start over at 45 which is how old I'll be when he's done with HS, but whatever. I'm not going to sit at home and stare out the window until retirement either.

Totally hear you. I was 40 when I had baby number 3 who is 6 months old now. My thinking was retiring some day sounds like a great idea, but I decided one more baby and round 3 of sleepless nights wouldn't kill me. Now I'm thinking why worry about early retirement when at that golden age I'll be paying their way through college. Guess I'll just have to stay young forever.