On Max's first Father's Day I handed him five sealed envelopes. Cheap, bulk envelopes you find at a convenience store. Inside each one was a page with words printed simply. It wasn't the cost of the gift that made a difference, but the messages inside. I reached out to five fathers I know my husband respects and admires, and asked them a series of questions. Their responses blew me away. I had no idea what to expect but their collective wisdom meant the world to Max and I hope this idea inspires you this Father's Day.
Words sustain me. Throughout the day I rely on messages and recalling encouragement/jokes/stories to make sense of life and stay true to myself. Pieces of advice become mantras and those mantras empower me. They help me make decisions. There are no limits to the power of words, but they must be shared first.
Ready to make it happen?
1. Come up with questions. (See end of post for ideas!)
2. Reach out to father figures. I emailed five dads I know my husband loves and respects. I tried to mix it up between fathers with grown children and fathers around our age. That doesn't necessarily matter but it was very interesting to see the wisdom from a father whose children are off and gone along with the ones in the thick of it.
3. Print them and place into envelopes. With a newborn I had limited time- I used cheap envelopes and regular printer paper. You can fancy this up as much as you want but the words on the paper are what matter most.
Done!
What is the best part of being a dad?
If you had a superpower as a dad what would it be?
What is your advice for managing work-life balance?
What is important to remember on difficult days?
What are your happiest moments as a dad?
Share a wise piece of advice about being a dad.
What traditions did your father pass on to you that you passed on to your children?
wishing you joy on your journey,
kristen
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