Father’s Day is a time when we look to honor those men in our lives who have given us love, security, guidance, and affection. For many of us, this is our biological father, while others it maybe was a grandfather, a stepfather, or another male role model in our life who ended up acting as a father figure to us. Regardless, these men have guided us, imparted wisdom, and left a lasting impact.
For this Father’s Day we collected four stories from our archives that examine the often complex relationships we have with our fathers, and how those relationships shape us, and follow us throughout our lives.
No Sign of Daddy by Darrelyn Saloom
A father’s absence looms large over a daughter’s life, but she holds onto hope that one day he will return. [The image show above is from Darrelyn’s story, a family photo (circa 1958) provided by the author, shown on far right.]
My Dad’s Hats by Warren Rawson
A son muses on his father’s hat collection, and how the things we hold onto provide meaning and connection beyond their everyday use.
A Bittersweet Remembrance: A US Navy Dad by Anne Campbell
A chance discovery in an antique shop brings back a flood of memories about a father and daughter relationship that never had an opportunity to fully bloom.
This Stranger, My Father by Lorie Adair
A woman sees her dead father in the face of a stranger at a coffee shop. Reflecting on her relationship with her father while he was alive, the author realizes he may not be so different to her than this stranger is now.
This article was both informative and inspiring—great job!