Father's Day Through a Child's Eyes

Father's Day always gets me thinking about what kids actually notice.

As parents, we spend so much time worrying about whether we're doing enough. We wonder if we're creating enough memories, planning enough activities, or making childhood feel special enough. But when I look at the things my own kids talk about, it's rarely the big things.

They remember who let them help make pancakes on Sunday morning, even when it made a mess. They remember being thrown into the pool over and over again. They remember sitting on someone's shoulders at a barbecue or tagging along for an errand that probably wasn't exciting to anyone except them.

Kids have a way of finding magic in things adults overlook.

The dads our children adore aren't perfect. They're not always patient, they don't always have the best ideas, and they certainly don't have all the answers. What makes them special is that they're present. They wrestle on the floor when they're tired. They answer a hundred questions in a row. They make room for one more story, one more game, one more trip around the block on a bike.

Years from now, our children probably won't remember what gifts were exchanged on Father's Day. What they'll remember is how it felt to spend time with the people they loved.

And honestly, that's a pretty good reminder for the rest of the year too.