On any given day you will probably hear me complain about my dad. It’s no secret that we fight a lot. I think it’s because we are so similar. And because we are both very stubborn. And very proud. But at the end of the day, I’m glad that he lives with Megan and me. He’s the one I go to when there’s a clanking noise in my car. Or when I need advice. He’s here to greet Megan when she comes home from school. When he goes to Costco, he’s always on the hunt for new gluten free foods for us.

There are so many lessons that I have learned from my dad.

• He taught me how to be a female in a male dominated world. He raised my sister and I like boys. We mowed the lawn, learned how to use power tools and how to hook worms on a fishing line. He taught us to stand up for ourselves and others. He raised us to be independent women.
• Growing up in a family of ten, my dad understood the importance of family. He knew that it was about working together and taking care of each other. These are values that he passed on to me, and I hope to pass on to Megan.
• As I mentioned, my dad is stubborn. This has taught me to hold my ground and to stand up for what I believe in.
• And most importantly, my dad has taught me the power of silence. He loves meeting and chatting with people. But the one thing I admire about him is that he never speaks poorly of others. If he doesn’t have anything nice to say, he doesn’t say anything. So very wise.

So on this day devoted to dads, I just want to thank my dad for raising me. Life wouldn’t be the same without him.