We end our week dedicated to improving our understanding of the men in our lives by thinking about fathers. Traditional wisdom tells us that, especially in the past, they were less involved with parenting than mothers. But, looking back at our own childhoods, we recognize that we’ve gotten so much from them. They taught us how to do things, how to accomplish our goals, and especially how to feel cherished.
Usually they would teach by playing – at first by throwing us up in the air as babies, later by hitting a tennis ball back and forth or teaching us chess moves or how to dive – or any number of other activities we loved to do with them. And even if they didn’t communicate as well verbally as our mothers did, they let us know how proud of us they were. As we grew and matured, our relationship changed but the bond of their love was always a constant.
To read more about how the connection with our fathers is transformed as they age, click on the title above to take you to our website, HerMentorCenter.com. It links you to our article, “How to Shift from Daddy’s Girl to Dad’s Caregiver.” As a Sandwiched Boomer, we hope you will find the tips there helpful in caring for your aging father.
This weekend, if you can, let Dad know how much you appreciate the role he has played in your upbringing. If your father is no longer alive, share stories about him with your children and grandchildren so they will know the kind of man he was. And a very Happy Father’s Day to all the men in our lives.
