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Fathers Day
dymond phillips • Jun 20, 2017
Yesterday, June 18th 2017, was Father's Day. It is the day out the year that people get to honor their fathers, grandfathers, uncles, or any man who is a good dad. Different people honor their fathers differently. Father's Day was first started in 1912 in Spokane, Washington. The holiday was started by a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd at the YMCA. The first Father's Day was celebrated at the YMCA in Spokane, on June 19th, 1910. Sonora Dodd's (the creator) father, William Jackson Smart, was a Civil War Veteran. He also was a single parent who raised six children. The holiday was created for fathers and father figures like him. But why exactly do we celebrate Father's Day? According to Timeanddate, "Father's Day is celebrated worldwide to recognize the contribution that fathers and father figures make to the lives of their children. This day celebrates fatherhood and male parenting." Is it just me or did y'all know Father's Day was celebrated all over the world on a variety of dates? A lot of counties try to keep the holiday the third Sunday in June, whatever date that falls on. To me, Father's Day is for every daddy father figure coach or man who has impacted your life. I have a lot of father figures in my life from my dad, stepdad, grandfathers and even uncles. In this post I'll give you four of my closest father figures. This was super hard for me, because I have soooo many who do a lot for me and I appreciate it all. Let me start by my daddy. My daddy and I aren't as close as we should be but he has had a major impact on my life. When I was younger and lived in Buffalo, I used to go over his house just about every other weekend. Then once I moved, he drove down to Michigan just to take me to my first ever daddy daughter dance. That was so special to me because I honestly didn't know if he would be able to make it. Unfortunately, my daddy ran into some trouble and went to prison while I was in high school and didn't get out until my second semester of my freshmen year in college. At that time, I felt like absolute sh*t. You ever feel like you're too busy to go visit loved ones? Well that was me, I beat myself up about all the calls I ignored and days I didn't want to go visit him. Believe it or not while my daddy was away our relationship grew stronger. We talked on the phone more and he made me these custom gifts for my birthdays and graduation. Since my dad has been home I've tried to talk to him at least once every week or two weeks, our conversations don't always have to be long but just good to hear his voice. I make sure whenever I go back to my hometown Buffalo, I visit him. Although he couldn't always do for me, I know my dad always does what he can.
The next father figure I always had in my life would be my Popa. Now, if you know me, you know my Popa and I are like fire and ice. We bump heads wayyyy tooo much BUT I know that's someone who is always there when I need him. I'm even under my Popa's phone line plan. My Popa is my mothers dad, he has always been in my life from birth. When my daddy wasn't around he always stepped in. My Popa definitely lets me know when I'm right or wrong. When it came to school/grades, weave being to long, or even boys, my Popa would get on me. I believe girls need that because without that I would be WILD! Unlike a lot of people, my mommy had my young so my grandparents are very young too. My Popa always came thru for me, whether it was me staying with him for summers when I came to Buffalo, or doing drop offs and pick ups for my friends and I. He is legit always just a call away. As I get older I start to realize why he was the way he was. The next two people came into my life later on but still had major impacts. First, my Grandpa Tony, is my grandmothers second husband. He came into my life when I was young maybe about 11 years old but he always was there. He was also always there for pickups and drop offs. Back when I lived with my grandmother for two years, he was a major contributor to my life. When it came to financially, both of my grandfathers had a major impact in that. My Grandpa Tony has been someone who is good to talk to when it comes to intellectual conversations because he's super smart. He used to help me with my homework and would help me understand it in a way nobody could. Even today, we text a lot and he expresses how proud of me he is. The last and newest father figure I want to acknowledge in this post is my step daddy, or light-skinned daddy as my mom would say. My stepdad James has been in my life for a few years. He might not have always been in my life but I think God brought him into it at the most important time. He came into my life during my junior year of high school. During this time I was looking at colleges to attend. It was always just my mommy and me. I didn't want to just leave her alone because it's always just been us. He came in at the perfect time. Within these years, my step daddy has changed my entire outlook on the type of man I want in my life. I'll never settle in a relationship by seeing the way he loves and cares for my mommy. He also is a major role in my life financially, he has helped take some of the financial burden off my mother. My step daddy is who I go to when I want some real life advice: when it comes to working and my brand he is the listening ear. He has sparked this "gotta get it" mentality in me that I never want to let go. He helps me follow my dreams because I know I have my him and my mom supporting me no matter what. When I have car issues he is the first person I call. My step daddy has created some big shoes for future boyfriends or even my husband to fill. Over all I have many father figures in my life but these four have had one of the most lasting impact on my life and for that I'm forever thankful. These are the men behind me that, in a couple years I can't wait to give back to! I love y'all thank you for molding the girl behind the blog.
