3. Share a lesson you learned from your Father that still sticks with you to this day.
It was a special day. We were visiting a theme park not too far from our home and the family had split up to hit a handful of different rides. My sister and I were with Dad as we climbed the huge staircase that took us to the top of a monster slide.
I saw the girl from a ways down and I was a little nervous knowing that we would be standing directly behind her in line. She was bald. And she looked to be my sister’s age. And she should have definitely had hair. It was uncomfortable really…here I was with a bunch of hair and there she was with none. It looked odd. I knew she had to have cancer like my Dad, but I couldn’t stop staring.
I was fully prepared to ignore the girl and wait our turn without drawing attention to her, but my Dad had noticed the girl too. He reached out and put a hand on her shoulder, “Got you too huh?”
She knew exactly what he was talking about. An acknowledgment of pain passed between them. She smiled and nodded her head. “You keep your head up, you hear me? You’re a strong young lady and you’re going to beat this.” He cracked a joke and she laughed. A look of gratitude exchanged from her Dad to mine.
I felt proud that he knew just what to say to her. It’s hard to speak up when you’re uncomfortable and don’t know what to say, but my Dad showed me how the simplest words of encouragement can light a person up. The lesson has carried weight into parenthood for me too. I realize how much my kids take their cues from me and what a profound impact I can have on them when I lead by example, just like my Dad did for me.