Lessons from dad

OK jingl you've made your point but reading posts from those whose fathers died when we were children or who were for whatever absent in our early years does not negate their contribtion to who we are today. So can we have less sniping and if you don't feel able or don't want to contribute - fine. My father visited my mother daily in hospital 10 miles away from his home for months on end despite being in his 80's unable to drive and suffering from angina. She wasn't always happy to see him as she had grown very short tempered but what he taught me in those years was dedication some might even call it even stubbornness. And a strong sense of duty. Oh and when I was a child he taught me to SPELL and to love and use language with respect! (My typos of today would have him spinning in his grave!)

Do you know, sitting here reading through his thread, I have suddenly, and blindingly, realised that I cannot think of one single thing my father taught me. He's still alive and in all my 60+ years I have NO recollection of anything I learned from my dad. He was always too busy with his business to spend time with me. This epiphany has shaken me to the core.

I didn't mean to put a dampener on everyone's memories .... thank you for the and hugs!

Right now I'm waiting for my DGS(8) to arrive from deepest Somerset for a long weekend, but last night reading the thread I was a five-year old in primary school and given the task of tidying up the plasticine box and nature table whilst everyone else was making father's day cards.

How silly to remember that!

Dragonfly.
My Dad taught me about equality and fairness.The saddest thing he taught me was that smoking can kill you

I'm sure there are many women on Mumsnet whose fathers were absent due to relationship break ups, given the increased number of divorces in that generation, so I can't see how it would be a more appropriate thread for MN.
Seems a reasonable topic to me.

Riverwalk I can see how sad that would be for you.

My dad taught me to appreciate what you have worked hard for. We were a working class family with very little money but my mum and dad put my sister and I first. My dad was hard and very strict but we girls never went without and always had good shoes, clothes and food. Plus if there was enough money around we had a seaside holiday.

On a lighter note, my dad passed on his love of music and took me to some amazing concerts when I was a child/teenager.

Riverwalk and Dragonfly

Riverwalk bad teacher there must have been a male relative you could have made a card for.
I've helped many a child make a card for grandad or uncle. At least they felt included.

nina we are talking 55 years ago ..... I assume, and hope, that things are different now for young children without a dad.

I remember my teachers with affection

My Dad taught me how to make the best of what you have, not to give up and to respect other people's opinions. Also, a love of books and nature in all its forms. On a lighter note, how to enjoy pints of real ale!

But I can remember when Fathers Day was first imported from the US. I think it was the late sixties/early seventies. And then it took a while to catch on. The card companies have been very insistent.

KatyK as with you I won't give me reasons for not having admiration for my dad, who is still alive and I have seen today,but to all you that have happy and cherished memories then that is lovely.

biker ((((hugs))))

My "father" taught me what sort of men to avoid - men like him. It has stood me in very good stead!

Same for me too Grannyknot.

I certainly don't begrudge others having good Fathers though, far from it.This is a nice thread.

My Dad taught me about love, care, compassion and the importance of family......also good manners, a love of Formula One and wrestling (the old-fashioned type, not this daft WWF stuff), how to have a grand day out with a packet of biscuits, a bottle of squash and a sense of adventure, how being a 'silly sausage' and saying daft things makes life fun...and a million and one other things.
He also passed all that on to my lovely sons, whom he absolutely doted on, even though he was 60 odd when he became a Grandpa. He was the father-figure they looked up to and adored (their father left when they were 5,7 and 9), and I'm so grateful for what he taught them.
Sadly we lost him 17 years ago, but when I look at my boys today, I see all those wonderful traits in them, and am pleased that they are now passing them on to their children.
Thank you Dad

I'm with you Grannyknot, and it was a very valuable lesson.

My father's favourite opera was Rigolletto and I'm sure it was because it contained the song ' Oh my beloved father, I loved him tenderly!
Actually we only really got on after I joined him in general practice!
After that we meshed so well. I taught me so much more than you learn at medical school about treating patients as people , rather than as medical subjects.
Modern medicine has lost so much humanity. It treats the biochemistry rather than the person.

roses me neither. My granddad was a wonderful, wonderful person.

That last comment was in response to gratefulgran.

for all the lovely dads and granddads.

With you Nanapug. Reading these stories makes me very envious but happy for those who had a great relationship with their fathers

The OP 'Lessons from Dad' is the question. The opening sentence "What useful life lessons has your father taught you" and the ending sentence "Go on, what's your dad taught you?" says nothing about these lessons only having to be happy, or to hold positive values.

I'm happy for all those who have happy memories, but feel there is an undercurrent of apology for those who have mentioned on this thread that they do not have happy memories of their father, that it might somehow cause a damper on a 'happy thread'.

Well, I'll say here a BIG thank you to those mentioning less than perfect times, because it's helped me to know that, as it has others, I'm sure.