A Father’s Words

“What’s wrong?” he asks,
his eyes full of empathy,
his ears ready to listen.

“I’m happiest when you’re happy,” he says
with a genuine smile flooding his face.

“How was your day?” he asks
in a curious tone,
settling in to hear all the stories
of triumph and heartbreak.

“I’m so proud of you,” he says
in times of joyous celebration
of accomplishments.

“How can I help?” he asks,
rolling up his sleeves,
with hands ready to do the work.

“I love you no matter what,” he says
no matter what.

Happy Father’s Day to dads everywhere and anyone else who takes on a fathering role!

Photo by Yogendra Singh from Pexels

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Fathers, father figures, and other people who take on fathering roles are so important to a child’s development. The Child & Family Research Partnership at The University of Texas at Austin put together a list of “5 Things You Should Know about the Importance of Fathers.” Unfortunately, I am ignorant about the programs that exist to support fathers and father figures. It felt disingenuous link to an organization that I know little about just because that organization says that it supports fathers. If you know of any charities or other organizations that actively work to support people in fathering roles, let me know. I’d love to broaden my knowledge on the topic.