“A dad is someone who wants to catch you before you fall but instead picks you up, brushes you off, and lets you try again.”  ~Author Unknown

I haven’t had the best example of what a dad should look like growing up. My dad is a wonderful man and we have a good relationship, but he was too young and too self-absorbed to encompass everything a dad should be. He would be the first one to tell you he wasn’t there much and chose his hobbies and friends over his family. But to his defense, I don’t know many 20-year-olds who could do better.  

The good thing is, with age comes wisdom and patience and he now makes up for all he lacked as a dad by being a wonderful grandpa. I didn’t know what a great dad should look like growing up because most of my friends’ dads were much like my dad. It wasn’t until I saw my own husband with our two kids that I realized what type of dad I wished for my whole life.  

My husband is the perfect blend of fun, discipline, confidante, leader, encourager, and friend to our kids. He is their “soft place to land” when they need it, non-judgmental, patient, and kind. He spends countless hours playing with them, helping them with their inventions and realizations of their crazy ideas. He encourages them when they want to try something new, like riding a bike without training wheels or climbing a tall tree, but he is also standing right there, ready to catch them. He is also the one who introduced them to the outdoors, taking them hiking, camping, and fishing. He teaches them about safety when in the wilderness, he explains maps and the rules of the outdoors. But he is also there to tuck them in bed on most nights, rubbing their backs and reading them stories. He is the one to nudge them to open the Bible, bow their heads in prayer before every meal, and to count their blessings for all they have been given. He is the dad I wish I had growing up but didn’t. 

Every Father’s Day our kids make beautiful cards for their dad and I am sure this year won’t be different. They will pour their hearts on a piece of paper and we will search for the perfect gift for their daddy. When asked what he’d like for Father’s Day, I guarantee my husband will say “nothing, I have everything I need and more.” And he will mean it because he is also amazingly humble. 

This Father’s Day we will be celebrating my husband by doing what he loves. A day spent outdoors, probably hiking or fishing. But just in case your husband might want or need something little extra, here are some recommendations:

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I’ll earn a commission, at no additional cost to you. Read my full disclosure here.

Happy Father’s Day!