CHAPTER CHAIRS: Are you ready for the new school year?

By Dan Holdhusen, Grandfather of three graduates and one currently enrolled in Blue Valley High School

CHAPTER CHAIRS: Are you ready for the new school year?The summer of 2024 is nearly complete and the ’24-’25 school year will be starting in the next few days. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! This refrain has been repeated over and over again in the past, but it never fails to make us think to ourselves: “How can this be?” Another important thing to consider for Father’s Club Chapter Chairs and other leaders is this: “Are our Father’s Club Chapter at (insert the chapter/school of your choice) ready to ‘hit the ground running’ in the coming school year?”

Unfortunately, the answer to this question is often “no, but…”

This blog is intended for Chapter leadership across the Father’s Club footprint throughout the metro to provide some ideas and encouragement to those whose plans may be in the formulation stages, or possibly non-existent; and to provide some testimonies from some leaders who have already put plans in place to hit the ground running on the first day of school coming up in just a few short days.

Chapter Leadership Responsibilities

Simply stated (and taking the liberty of paraphrasing the Mission Statement), the task of any Father’s Club leader is to motivate and collaborate with dads of a like mind to be a catalyst for positive influence and outcomes with KIDS, other DADS, and within the COMMUNITY.

Stepping up to the level of Chapter leadership is a noble calling and should not become a burden. Being prepared with plans to recruit and partner with other dads is a huge part of the Chapter leadership’s responsibilities. The ROI comes with the joy and satisfaction of knowing that you can and have made a difference in the lives of each individual kid, dad and other individuals. Right here. Right now!

The main focus of this blog is NOT to call anyone out for not being adequately prepared with plans for the coming school year. We are all very busy and have good intentions and, often, wait to the last minute to put a plan together. Instead, we would like to share plans put in place by a couple of Chapter leaders and, especially, to share with you the excitement they have as they anticipate the events that will unfold in the coming school term.

Chapter Preparedness Plans – Blue Valley West and Olathe Mission Trail Middle School

2021 Blue Valley West Concession StandBlue Valley West (BVW) has a highly active membership group and community. Here is an article written early this year about the great leadership and school support that the BVW Father’s Club has contributed to the life of those they are called to serve. Two veteran leaders at the school are Kevin Saylan and Dan Viall.

Viall offers a few perspectives on what BVW chapter has done and is doing to ensure the new school year gets off the ground in fine fashion and maintains momentum throughout the year. He explains that everything begins with focus on the importance of being connected with the principal and other supporters of the school.

“Relationships matter,” Viall emphasizes. He and Saylan, BVW’s Chapter Chair, have a collaborative working session with their principal and her administrative team just prior to the beginning of school year (and on an ongoing schedule throughout the year) to hear what is planned as points of emphasis throughout the year. The Father’s Club can then plan events that support those programs in addition to giving the students a rousing welcome as they return to school.

Viall adds that the importance of collaborating with West’s PTO to coordinate events at the beginning and throughout the year. He adds that “we already have our fall calendar set, with 16 events planned that will lead up to and include BVW’s Father’s Club signature Friday night home football concession sales.”

Saylan emphasizes the importance of preparation and planning for the new year. In so doing, the Chapter will host a meeting with its top volunteers to share with them BVW’s Father’s Club vision for the coming year, share program and recruiting ideas, and ensure the Chapter is ready to launch a successful year.

Is all this planning and all these events make a difference and worth the effort? Both Kevin and Dan respond with an emphatic: “Yes!!! We love our Jaguar community!!!” That statement is golden and says it all!

Mission Trail Middle School

Mission Trail Middle School Dads Stepping up and Stepping InJim Bradford took over as Chapter Co-Chair (along with Kevin Kufeldt) at Mission Trail Middle School (MTMS) this past school year and immediately began involving other dads to successfully close out last year and promptly begin planning for another great year in 2024-25.

Last year, the Father’s Club chapter partnered with the school staff to clear some wooded property adjacent to Mission Trail and created a disk golf course. Not only did this project add a popular attraction and more eye appeal to the school’s grounds, but also served as an excellent team building opportunity for MTMS dads.

Bradford goes on to say, “we are very excited to welcome the kids back with a special Fist Bump on the first day of school, followed up with our popular Fist Bump Fridays two days later.” They also use a few of the back-to-school events to help recruit and involve other dads. For example, “we are present at all three (6th, 7th and 8th grade) ‘back to school nights’ which, last year, were instrumental in the recruitment of 70 dads signing up to participate in Father’s Club!”

Tailgate events, ice cream socials, and grilling hamburgers and brats to show appreciation for teachers are other events that MTMS sprinkles in during the year.

Bradford sums it all up with this statement: “Getting back up to the school, seeing the kids and being a positive influence in their lives, even if just for a moment in the morning, is so overwhelmingly rewarding to all of us.”

The Importance of Planning

The Father’s Club planning efforts of Blue Valley West and Mission Trail Middle School are excellent examples of how effective and engaged dads in being a catalyst for positive change in the lives of a Chapter and its community.

If you have questions on what ideas will work in your Chapter, don’t hesitate to reach out to Mike Davisson, Father’s Club’s Executive Director at mdavisson@fathersclub.org or one of the Chapter Chairs listed on the website. A well-prepared and executed plan can make all the difference in the vibrancy and positive outcomes of Father’s Club activities on each and every campus.

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Mission Cup Golf 2024. Let’s GO!

By Randy Bratton, Director of Chapter Development/Board Member for Father’s Club

Hi guys! This is Randy Bratton with Father’s Club, here to talk about our biggest fundraiser of the year. It’s the Mission Cup golf tournament.

This year, the tournament is on two different days at two different golf courses:

Sycamore Ridge, Thursday August 29th
Eagles Landing, Friday September 6th

We would love to see you, and we would love your support for Father’s Club. If you’ve played in one of our past Mission Cup tournaments, you know how much fun it really is. If you haven’t already signed up to golf as an individual or if you want to sign up an entire foursome, please visit the Mission Cup Golf page on our website to get started!

If your company would be willing to step up as a corporate sponsor, you can also do that on the Mission Cup Golf registration page. Just click the Register Now button.

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Summer time is quality family time

By Jim Bradford, Chapter Co-Chair at Mission Trail Middle School for Father’s Club

The minute school starts, kids check the district calendar to find out when school’s out. It’s second nature. It’s a kid thing.

And who are we kidding? Parents do it, too. We want to know when we can start planning vacations. When’s that first lake weekend? When can we plan that trip to the coast? Or Yosemite? The options are endless, but the timeframe is always the same, late May until early August.

Summer time is quality family time Summer time is quality family time

When class is done and schedules open up, thoughts turn to road trips, airline flights and summer fun.

Sure, summer is full of travel for sports like baseball, softball, volleyball, soccer and so many more, but it’s about time to relax with the family, too.

Those summer teams can come with some built-in travel, but is that really a vacation? No, not really. You travel to Orlando, Omaha, Denver or Las Vegas for a reason. It’s not about kicking back and relaxing for five or six days. There’s a heck of a lot of work involved when it comes to travel sports and there is precious little downtown. There are plenty of memories to be made at those far-off tournaments, but those are different memories. Still great memories, but just a bit different.

When the whole family gets to take to the highway or the friendly skies, it hits differently. For some it’s an annual trip. Something the family has done for a generation or for a few years. It’s a lake house or a beach home. It might even be a trip to the Big Apple or our nation’s capital.

Summer time is quality family time Summer time is quality family time

The best thing about every single trip you plan, the byproduct is memories.

You can’t go on a trip and not pack a suitcase of memories to bring back with you. It’s impossible.

This summer, it was a trip to the Lake of the Ozarks, for us. Great times, great conversations, great food and, of course, a spin around the lake on a tube – still a favorite for our three kiddos. We’ve been taking a trip to the Ozarks or Branson each of the past five or six summers. This year, we added a bit of history, though. We were sure to drive a few extra minutes and stop by the Willmore Lodge to learn about the history of the Lake of the Ozarks and harnessing the power of Bagnell Dam.

For some other Father’s Club dads, their family trips this summer saw then heading west to the coast or southeast to the Gulf Coast.

Summer time is quality family timeKevin Kufeldt, co-chair of the Mission Trail Middle School Father’s Club, and his family, summer 2024 had an international feel. Literally. Between travel baseball tournaments, the Kufeldts took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to South America. They took a family cruise to Honduras, Belize and Cozumel and, despite the tropical storm, had an absolutely blast, even catching some great waves in the Gulf of Mexico.

 

For Brad Reynolds, co-chair of the Father’s Club at Chisholm Trail Middle School, it was all about keeping traditions going and starting new ones with his kids. A family vacation was delayed until August because of baseball and softball, but the summer started off with bang for him and his son and daughter. He was able to continue his dad-daughter tradition of going to the Women’s College Softball World Series in Oklahoma City in June and then started a new tradition by taking his up to the Men’s College World Series in Omaha. Brad was able to get some unmatched, quality, one-on-one time with each of his kiddos at the start of summer before their big family trip this month.

Whether it’s regional, international or just one-on-one time, summer vacations come in many shapes and sizes, but all are perfect ways to get away and make memories. That’s the important part!

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Father’s Club Leaders Come Together for Organization-Wide Summit

By Dan Holdhusen, Grandfather of three graduates and one currently enrolled in Blue Valley High School

More than thirty dads from throughout the Kansas City metro joined in a Chapter Chair Summit recently. The event marked the first-of-its-kind for leaders – both current and incoming in their positions – of the various Father’s Club chapters in the expanding footprint in the Father’s Club vision of “…creating simple ways for dads to be intentional with their KIDS, with other DADS and within their COMMUNITY.”

After a hearty meal, chapter leaders were welcomed and thanked by Mike Davisson, Executive Director, who led the group in reporting on a host of topics to update leaders on the latest programmatic, partnership efforts, best practices, upcoming events, and myriads of other subjects of interest to the enthusiastic attendees.

Father’s Club Leaders Come Together for Organization-wide Summit Father’s Club Leaders Come Together for Organization-wide Summit

Father’s Club Board Member Share

Speakers also included Board members Todd Milner, Randy Bratton, and Brad Holdhusen.

Todd spoke about the ongoing effort that he leads to educate and inform dads in the area of Mental Health and Wellness. He explained that the schedule for upcoming workshops will be distributed sometime in August in advance of the upcoming school year. He explained briefly about the content of the course and indicated that over one hundred dads attended the sessions in the first half of this year and reviews were outstanding. One participant’s reaction: “Knowing what is offered at these workshops will, simply and literally, save lives!”

Bratton, who has been a main organizer of the Father’s Club’s largest single fundraiser during the year, the Mission Cup Golf Tourney, discussed plans for the upcoming events later this summer and fall. He explained that, for the first year, two dates are offered – one on Sept. 6th and the second on Aug. 29th, played on two separate courses. He encouraged attendees to promote the event, spread the word, and participate by organizing a team to participate.

Brad Holdhusen discussed the importance of having an “onboarding” process for the incoming chapter leaders, as well as stressed the importance of having dad leaders who lead by example to inspire other fathers in their chapters to be active participants in promoting and conducting events. He also encouraged leaders to begin planning events and their activities and recruitment of new members and volunteers for the upcoming school year now, before the school term begins in the fall.

Father’s Club Leaders Come Together for Organization-wide Summit Father’s Club Leaders Come Together for Organization-wide Summit

Chapter Leader Testimonials

Although reports and overviews from Mike and the Father’s Club Board members were helpful and enlightening, the greatest part of the Chapter Chair Summit came from the experiences and insights of those who led Chapters during the 2023-2024 school year just concluded.

Example of these testimonials included:

  • The incredible sense of support and community that came from the dads and the Father’s Club organization after a tragic incident that occurred during the school year involving the death of family members. The comfort offered by the intentional action led by Father’s Club members contributed to healing and a feeling of security for affected students and faculty that were deeply affected by the tragedy;
  • The success and associated benefits of one chapter’s efforts to sell concessions for home football games that not only contributed to a closeness within and among the entire community of students, staff, parents, and family members, but also enabled the chapter to provide some amazing Father’s Club-sponsored events during the school year. A capstone of this Chapter’s efforts resulted in awarding $7,500 in scholarships to worthy students at the conclusion of the year;
  • The alignment of partnerships with various local vendors in achieving very favorable prices (or, in some cases, donated goodies) to conduct dozens of Father’s Club’s signature events called “Fist Bumps for Food” (aka FB4F) during the school year by a growing number of chapters. A number of Summit-attendee dads could not say enough about how the thousands of kids who received a snack and a fist bump (or hug) from a dad before their classes had contributed to huge smiles and “thank yous” from the kids, not to mention the hearts of gratitude created on the part of the fathers.

Father’s Club Leaders Come Together for Organization-wide Summit

Take-Aways from the Summit

The coming together of Father’s Club Chapter Chairs and other leaders accumulated a number of benefits. Everyone came away from the gathering with a sense of increased gratitude for the mission and activities of Father’s Club; but also, a renewed sense of appreciation of how the mission is playing out in the metro for the great good of KIDS, DADS, and the COMMUNITY.

Some high-level take-aways from the time together included:

  • Relationships are key to a successful Chapter. Especially between Chapter leadership, superintendents, principals, and teachers;
  • Be innovative with ideas on how to promote Father’s Club activities and events, but do not be afraid to copy another Chapter’s successful experiences;
  • The Father’s Club has particular leadership expectations and ethical standards across the organization; but each Chapter is unique and encouraged to plan and conduct events that will “fit” for their individual Chapter;
  • Investing a few dollars and, most importantly, time, into the life of a student pays exceptionally large and long-lasting rewards. For not only the KIDS, but also for DADS and the COMMUNITY.

Davisson concluded the meeting by thanking all attendees and pledged to support the leaders as they lead by example in their respective chapters and communities.

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Starfish Award Presented to Mike Tireman, Chapter Chair at CTMS

By Mike Davisson, Executive Director/Olathe Regional Director/Board Member for Father’s Club

Mike Tireman - Starfish AwardFather’s Club mission is to create simple ways for DADS to be intentional with their KIDS, with other DADS and within the COMMUNITY. It was with the simple approach and desire to have a greater impact that Mike Tireman stepped up and stepped into the Chapter Chair role at Chisholm Trail Middle School. After 2 years of leadership and flawless execution (except for a Daylight Donuts error!) Mike Tireman was honored and awarded the Starfish Award for the annual Volunteer of the Year presented by Principal Rick Sola.

Rick explained the following regarding the origination of the Starfish Award and his reason for honoring Mike with it:

“The CTMS founding principal gave a copy and pin of the Starfish poem to each staff member. This was my first year and the story is about making a difference no matter how overwhelming or large a task may be. Throwing one starfish among thousands back into the sea makes a difference to that individual starfish.

My first year I wanted to honor Mrs. Levar and her legacy at CTMS and created the “Carol LeVar Starfish Award” to honor a non-staff member for making a big difference for our kids/community. The person is selfless with their time and dedicated to CTMS and its kids. Mike epitomizes what the award is designed to honor. He gave time and dedicated his efforts to the Father’s Club cause at CTMS. His passion was kids and connection. He did that for two years and was a driver for our building.”

Mike is a great example of how simple, intentional actions make a huge impact that are sometime recognized in the moment and in special ways like this one. On behalf of Father’s Club, we too recognize Mike for his tenure as the Chapter Chair of Chisholm Trail Middle School and look forward to his continued impact as he transitions to Olathe South High School this coming school year!

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Father’s Club presents at The Entrepreneurs Alliance

Mike Davisson from Father's Club presents at The Entrepreneurs Alliance of Kansas City

Spreading the Word

Father's Club presents at The Entrepreneurs AllianceRecently, Mike Davisson, the Executive Director for Father’s Club, presented at The Entrepreneurs Alliance of Kansas City. This was a great opportunity to spread the word about the impact Father’s Club is having on high schools and middle schools in the greater Kansas City metro.

We would like to thank Doug Hubler with Apex Business Advisors for hosting this event!

The Entrepreneurs Alliance is exactly what it sounds like – a group of entrepreneurs and professionals who enjoy speaking into and supporting the process and ideas behind building successful businesses. Their goal is to connect and educate within the entrepreneurial ecosystem in and around Kansas City.

Mike began with a history of Father’s Club. How it began in 2018 and how it has grown every year since. There are Father’s Club chapters at 21 high schools and 4 middle schools… and the 2025 school year is bringing massive growth! (But we don’t want to ruin the surprise… more on that to come in future blog posts as we gear up for the new school year.)

Lead Courageously – We strive to be strong, courageous and to get involved. We are not afraid or discouraged when we have the body of men to support us.

One of the important pillars of Father’s Club is to lead courageously.

Father's Club presents at The Entrepreneurs AllianceMike delivered on the goal of leading courageously at this event. He is fairly new in his role as Executive Director and has only had the opportunity to do a handful of presentations about Father’s Club around Kansas City.

He began with an incredibly personal story that he got emotional about sharing, and most of the people in the room followed suit. Then he got into the power of Father’s Club for sharpening men and the impact Father’s Club is having in the lives of kids. Quite a few people in the room had heard of Father’s Club, which is a testimony to the growth in our community.

Members of the Entrepreneurs Alliance are active in Father’s Club chapters and have hosted various fundraising events that benefit Father’s Club. (A perfect example was the Porsches and Pancakes event.)

It was a great event followed by a good amount of Q&A. You can always tell by the questions asked in a Question and Answer session how interesting the topic was for the audience. The story of Father’s Club definitely hit the hearts of people attending based on their questions!

If you would like to have Father’s Club come and present to your company or organization, please let us know. Father’s Club began as a grass roots effort and word of mouth continues to accelerate involvement. The more we tell the story, the more fathers will want to get involved!

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Happy Hour Benefiting Father’s Club: July 19th from 3-6pm

By Jeremy Marks, Chapter Co-Chair at Lee’s Summit North for Father’s Club

July 19th Happy Hour Benefiting Father's ClubHappy Hour Details

When:
July 19th from 3-6pm

Where:
5440 W. 110th St., Suite 300
Overland Park, KS 66211
Map and Directions

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As a member of the Father’s Club, I have witnessed firsthand the profound importance of fostering strong relationships among men in our community. The Father’s Club is built on the belief that by supporting each other, men can create a more positive and impactful environment for themselves and those around them. Our goal is to provide the Father’s Club and the broader community with a platform to share their stories, insights, and experiences, thereby fostering a deeper understanding of the ways in which men are contributing to the betterment of our communities.

To enhance these efforts, Community Lending of America is excited to partner with Friction Brewing Company, which is graciously providing complimentary beer for our quarterly happy hour events. This generous contribution not only adds a celebratory element to our gatherings but also serves as a token of appreciation for the men who are making a difference in our community. These events offer an opportunity for networking, collaboration, and mutual support, reinforcing the bonds within our community and encouraging more individuals to get involved.

At Community Lending of America, we believe that by shining a light on the remarkable work being done by individuals and non-profits, we can inspire others to take action and contribute to the greater good. Our ongoing commitment to promoting these efforts reflects our dedication to building a stronger, more connected, and more compassionate community. Together, we can make a lasting impact and continue to support those who are working tirelessly to improve the lives of others in the Kansas City region.

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Summertime is family time

By Jim Bradford, Chapter Co-Chair at Mission Trail Middle School for Father’s Club

SummertimeSchool’s out! Just in time, right?

The cold winter afternoons seem like a lifetime ago and those brisk spring mornings are suddenly a memory. In their place are warm evenings, staying up late and sleeping in.

Summer is here and all these kids certainly deserve a break. So do we, honestly, but summer is really about the little ones.

While the immediate thoughts turn to a seemingly endless summer of fun on the gaming console of choice or the rotating door of sleepovers, it’s important to remember the true gift that we’re handed when school is out – time.

It’s the most valuable of our commodities and we shouldn’t waste it.

Take time to make time. Summer is built for just that.

SummertimeReady for some harsh truths? As parents of middle schoolers, we are guaranteed around six or seven summers before those kiddos are off to college. As parents of high schoolers, it’s even more eye-popping as we have anywhere from one to three. Let that sink in. Depending on what grade your kiddo is in, you have anywhere from one to seven chances to bask in the summer sun with them before they are off to college. And then summers will look a lot different.

So, as we settle into summertime, it’s a good time to make some memories. Between fastballs and grounders, let’s soak up some sun poolside. When you’re not killing time between softball games, catch some fireflies at dusk.

OK, it’s more than Norman Rockwell summer fun, sure.

It’s a time for trips to the lake, fishing from the docks, learning to waterski. Or for those heading to the coast down south, it’s all about the beach.

While connecting with students through all of our efforts at the middle school and high school level is great, summer is for connecting with those that matter most.

Let’s make the summer of 2024 be all about family, friends and the Fourth of July.

And while your at it, see if any of those friends might be interested in joining Father’s Club, huh?

Summertime

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Olathe East Chapter Update: 1 School Year. 30+ Events. 60+ Dads. 1 Purpose.

By Tyler Cook, Chapter Co-Chair at Olathe East for Father’s Club

Olathe East Chapter UpdateHigh Fives All Around: Thank you Olathe East Dads!

Another school year is in the books, and what a year it’s been for the Olathe East Father’s Club! We accomplished some incredible things together, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication and enthusiasm of each and every one of the dads that participated.

Over the course of this year, we had more than 31 opportunities to connect and be intentional, which led to having over 60 dads join our efforts at 20 events this past year focused on students and school, plus 11 separate dad-only ‘Dad Nights’!

A Year of Making a Difference

From supporting our students at tailgates to fueling students with breakfast before finals, we were there to show our support. We brightened countless mornings with Fist Bump Fridays, we won pizza for our school during the halftime Father’s Club Face-Off between OE and OS and we had a lot of fun along the way.

But our impact goes beyond the fun and games. This year, we partnered with school counselors to promote mental health awareness during Suicide Prevention Week in September. We also invested in ourselves with a Mental Health and Wellbeing Workshop for Dads alongside Olathe East’s ‘Be the Voice’ Mental Health and Awareness week in April. To finish the year off, we also provided three $500 scholarships ($1,500 total) to students during Senior Awards Night.

Olathe East Chapter Update Olathe East Chapter Update Olathe East Chapter Update

A Huge Thank You to Our Dads

None of these achievements would have been possible without the incredible energy and commitment of the Olathe East Father’s Club dads. Whether you volunteered at as many events as you could, or lent a hand for one or two, your participation made a real difference. Our hope is that you left knowing that our involvement matters with our kids, school and community.

Olathe East Chapter Update Olathe East Chapter Update Olathe East Chapter Update

Looking Ahead to Next Year

As we head into summer, we want to express our sincere gratitude for your support this year. We’re already looking forward to the next school year and creating even more opportunities to connect with our kids, the school, and each other. Some of you had seniors this year and might think your time is over, our hope is that you keep participating in our efforts. For the new middle school dads headed to high school, please get involved and bring a friend. And lastly, for any dads that want to get more involved, we’re here and ready and we’d love for you to join us.

Olathe East Chapter Update Olathe East Chapter Update Olathe East Chapter Update

Stay Connected and Invite More Dads!

Summer might be here, but the Olathe East Father’s Club never sleeps! We still meet up the last Thursday of every month and we’re brainstorming how to make next year better. We’ll keep you updated on upcoming events and opportunities to get involved. In the meantime, stay connected with us on Facebook by following or liking our page, and sign up here for future communications if you haven’t done so already.

Here’s to a fantastic year, Olathe East Dads! Let’s make the next one even better!

Olathe East Chapter Update Olathe East Chapter Update Olathe East Chapter Update

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The joy of being a Father!

By Todd Milner, Director of Mental Health and Wellness/Board Member for Father’s Club

Father’s Day is this weekend! Saturday, June 16th. Of course we had to write about it. :)

Father’s Day was created in 1910 to celebrate and honor the importance that a father plays in being the leader and protector of his family. This day was designed and dedicated to all the fathers who stand as a pillar for their family members. Father’s Day is a day to show our love and gratitude to our fathers and make them feel special!

Fun facts:

  • The joy of being a Father!According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the necktie is the most popular of all Father’s Day gifts. (We can do better kiddos!)
  • The first unofficial Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910.
  • President Lyndon Johnson endorsed the nationwide commemoration of Father’s Day on the third Sunday of June in 1966.
  • President Nixon officially declared Father’s Day a national holiday in 1972.
  • The origin of the word dad may simply be baby talk – “dada” meaning ‘Father’.
  • There are 1.5 billion fathers worldwide.
  • Father’s Day is the fifth-largest card-sending occasion in America with almost 100 million Father’s Day cards sent each year.
  • Only 50% of all Father’s Day cards are purchased for dads.

While many fathers get to hear, “Thank you for being there every day with just the love and guidance I’ve needed. Everything you’ve taught me has stuck with me and I’m lucky to have a dad like you.” “Dad, you have given me the best things in life: Your time, your care, and your love. I am truly grateful to have you in my life.” Sadly, there many fathers who experience sadness, loneliness and depression due to a loss of a child, a loss of their own father or they find themselves living in a split family. These events or “fence posts” are present and painful in many men’s lives, making it hard to celebrate or be celebrated on this day.

A father cares for his family unconditionally.

A father shows his children the way they should go in this world. He protects and works hard for his family. He sets a good example and makes sure his family doesn’t go without — even if he does. A father wears many hats in the life of his family: provider, protector, leader, teacher, helper, encourager, and friend.

A Father is a protector, teacher and encourager; he picks you up when you fall, he brushes you off and lets you try again; he is often referred to as a son’s first hero and daughter’s first love.

What does a daughter need from her father?

  • The joy of being a Father!Transparency
  • Be a Good Example
  • Share your Passions
  • Unconditional Love
  • Loving Imperfections
  • Patience
  • Support
  • Reassurance

A daughter needs her dad to be transparent and honest with her. He needs to be an example of a good and loving husband, a great friend, a community member, a worker, a parent, and a “real” person. Why? Your daughter is going to model all of the future men in her life after her father, including the man she’s going to end up marrying. So, you want her to have high standards, and those standards are modeled after her dad!

She also needs you to share your passions and mistakes with her. She doesn’t need someone who has lived their life perfectly, rather someone that encourages a life of integrity. Being real with her is a vital part of building a strong and healthy relationship with your daughter as she grows to become an adult. She needs to see and know the “real you” who makes mistakes and has flaws.

Daughters need unconditional love. They need to know that no matter how much they mess up that their dad will always be there for them and love them unconditionally! Daughters need love, patience, honesty, encouragement, a good listening ears and a shoulder to cry on.

As a daughter grows up, she will undoubtedly make many mistakes. Having a father that is constantly reassuring that he’s proud of her no matter what she does is critical to her development as a young lady! No matter how busy your life gets, taking time to sit down and do something like chatting on the phone, playing a game of cards, going on a drive, just listening are so important in always reassuring her that she is loved, seen and you are proud of her. Our daughters need quality time with the man they will model their relationships after, their fathers!

What does a son need from his father?

  • The joy of being a Father!Role Model
  • Forgiveness
  • Discipline
  • Teacher
  • Unconditional Love
  • Strength
  • Respect
  • Integrity & honesty

A son needs many of the same things as a daughter does but most importantly a son is looking to his father to be a role model. He needs a teacher and a strong male figure in his life that provides visual examples of what it means to be a strong man of integrity!  He needs someone to look up to and someone to model his life after. He needs a man who can show him how to be a gentleman.  He needs his father to show him what respect and honesty looks like. He needs his dad to show him how to value and respect women.  He needs to see from his father an example of how to love his future wife unconditionally.

A son needs his father to understand when he makes a mistake how to use those times as a learning opportunity knowing his dad once walked in similar shoes.  He wants a dad who no matter what will have his back and will love him unconditionally. A son needs his fathers to be present and engaged consistently in his life to celebrate mountain top experiences and/or help him navigate through tough times.

Sons need their fathers to be men of character that they can look up to and see great examples of what it means to be a man. They need to learn discipline and humility from their fathers. They need to know that no matter what happens or what they do that they can always come to their fathers and talk it out without judgement.  Our sons need quality time with the man they will model their life after!

Fathers these are very long & demanding lists from our sons and daughters! The great news is that all this hard work, sleepless nights and tears shed will be repaid by the joy you will get in seeing your sons and daughters thrive and live a life they learned from talking and watching you!  There is no more important job in this world than to be an engaged, intentional, passionate and loving father!

Happy Father’s dads!  You got this!

The joy of being a Father!

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