Lessons from dad

Sorry for the surfeit of surelys there.

I'm very envious of the lovely memories that you all have of your dads and what they taught you.

Mine died when I was four and a half .... I'm 60 this year and to this day still affected by that early loss.

My father NEVER 'preached' at us, jingl. Nothing I said in my earlier post implied that. Most of what I learned from him was learned by example. His expectations of his daughters were high and I believe he was happy with the way we all grew up to be our own women. Yes, I was a war baby, and admit I was fortunate in that my father was in a reserved occupation - making explosives - so was there for us throughout, indefatigably digging for victory in his spare time and serving as Captain of the Home Guard.

Congratulations.

My mother worked for Salters as well as te bing. She told us she was making springs for spitfires? I never knew they were clockwork.
Apparently she was so bad they put her on inspection instead!

As well as teaching

Riverwalk. I'm sorry to hear that.

On the practical side my dad taught me car stuff, my granddads taught me gardening stuff, my mum taught me animal stuff.

My dad also told me to follow my dreams (mum always had a reason not to), look for the beauty in the simple things and think laterally (mum had tunnel vision). I'm glad I listened to my dad.

And Riverwalk and all of you who lost your dads too soon.

Riverwalk ((((hugs)))).

My Dad taught me to stand up straight and be proud of my height at the age of twelve. That no one is my superior or is inferior to me, 'kowtow to no man or woman' rings in my ears. To be kind to people.

He gave me a love of reading and a sense of wonder and awe of the universe.

I miss him.

I lost mine when I was 4.5 as well. I remember him teaching me the difference between a blackbird and a jackdaw - so i probably got my interest in birds from him. Also, I think, my sense of humour (because I certainly didn't get that from my mother ) and he was known for making clever puns.

Dad was a man of very few words. He was a very gentle gentleman. He taught me a love of nature, how to grow veg and to recognize certain flowers.
He taught me to ride my bike and to mend a puncture. To wire a plug and change a fuse. How to draw, and how to paint as in decorating not wallpapering, that was mum's job .

for all of you who never knew or remember your fathers.

I think the main lesson my father taught me was responsibility, to take others' feelings into account and to believe in myself. Oh and also helping me learn my "times-tables", especially 4x8 which for some inexplicable reason would not stick in my brain, needless to say it's firmly lodged there now.

My mum suffered from MS and in many ways (certainly in practical ways) he was also a mum to me as well. So he taught me men are just as capable as women in all areas of domesticity.

Oh and jingle I find your "contributions" to this thread neither appropriate nor pleasant

I loved my father and still miss him 7 years after he died. He's still with me though, and with the rest of his family because of the things we learned from him. He encouraged his daughters to develop a love of life, love of family, respect for others, tolerance and the need for integrity, loyalty and honesty in relationships. They're the first things that sprang to mind when reading the OP. He also taught me how to clean my shoes and wash my hands properly, the importance of keeping the garden weed free, and turning the soil over in the spring before planting vegetables. He taught me how to hang wallpaper, and paint the woodwork, as well as the importance of looking after your paint brushes. He tried and failed to help me improve my abilities in maths. He read to his children and encouraged us to read, read and read more.

I envy all of the above as River does but for different reasons. I won't bring a happy thread down by saying why

Katy and thanks for your thoughtful contribution

Moomin my Mother had a heart murmur, discovered when I was born so my Father had to take on the same role as yours and I appreciate all he did.

Lucky not to be a war baby into the bargain!

Katy yes, thank you.

My father taught me patience - I never heard him say an angry word. He was a very contented man - drove my mother, who was feisty and ambitious, up the wall.

I don't this is a daft thread. Lovely memories for all of you who had loving fathers. I didn't. No further comment.

for the grans who didn't have the loving dad I had. I do hope that you have all had happy lives in spite of missing out.

Thread might be alright on Mumsnet. On here, I think it's patronising. Apart from anything else.

I find it odd that the OP refers to 'fathers' in the present tense. As though all fathers of 60/70/80 year olds are likely to be still with us.

Perhaps the card companies should invent a sons' and daughters' day. I could heap huge praises on them. They have taught me so much.

I don't see what the difference is between it being asked on Mumsnet and on here *jinglbellsfrocks". Just because we are older is irrelevant, we still all had a father at one point in our life and it is nice to be allowed to voice appreciation should we choose to. You don't have to read it if you find it patronising.
Also, I don't understand why people feel people shouldn't talk about their fathers just in case someone who's father died feels sad. I personally didn't know my father at all, but I don't see why others shouldn't be allowed to have and share their happy memories. We have all had things happen in life but we have to get on with it and allow others to appreciate things.

My dad taught me loads of practical things from how to clean shoes to the reading of a micrometer. Like many posters, I learned from my father many skills that came in very useful when I had my own house and garden to take care of. In his youth, he was well travelled, firstly in the merchant navy and secondly as an armaments inspector when war broke out. I used to love hearing stories about other places and countries and this inspired a love of maps and a streak of wanderlust. He had an excellent sense of humour and I still remember many of his silly jokes.