I'm an enormous daddy's girl. Since I was little I did just about everything with my dad and went everywhere he went. At 20 years old, I have now learned so much from my father. He's a large part of my life and has shaped me in the best way, through everything he has taught me:
1. To Laugh
My dad and I can sit there for hours laughing. We show each other funny commercials and videos and we have so many inside jokes. He even taught me to laugh at myself. The things we laugh at may seem absolutely ridiculous to some, but to us, these are the greatest things ever. And our jokes about these things last for years. Our most recent favorite funny commercial is this Nature’s Care Plant Food commercial:
2. To Cry
The first time I ever saw my father cry was in third grade when my great-grandmother passed away. Before then I thought my dad never cried, that he was brick stone. Since then I have seen him cry a million times. In fact, just like we sit there and laugh for hours, we can sit there and cry together for hours, too. We show each other sad videos we find and this can go on for hours on end.
3. Never Eat Soggy Waffles
I’ve never been one of those people who got confused on their lefts and rights, but East and West were always very confusing to me. To help me learn, my dad told me “Never Eat Soggy Waffles.” Which, if you think about it, is two lessons in one: It’s a life lesson and a lesson in directions. I still use this all the time, too. Every time I go to visit my parents and I have to take an exit that splits East and West, I use “Never Eat Soggy Waffles” to remind me which exit to take.
4. To Throw a Punch
While I’ve never had to actually use this skill; growing up with a dad, a brother, and boy cousins around constantly taught me to fight. We joke around and have wrestling matches and I almost win, sometimes. Anyone who has ever felt me even throw a play punch can tell you that I have one of the hardest punches they’ve felt. And I know that if I ever have to actually defend myself, I'll be able to -- because my dad taught me how to.
5. Nothing is Free
Ever since I was younger I’ve been taught to work for what I want – nothing is free. While I never actually got an allowance, I always had chores. From the time I was able to clean, I cleaned – and it showed me that everybody had to pull their own weight. You don’t always receive something for your work but you always have to work.
6. To Be Patriotic
My dad was a veteran. Growing up with a dad like him, I have grown a deep love for our country. I have gotten into politics and constantly debate issues with my dad. Not only has it made me smarter, it has made me realize how much I love this wonderful free country, and how much I want to fight to keep this country free.
7. To Hold My Own
Since I was extremely young, my dad took me everywhere with him: hunting, fishing, work, and even card shows. I learned how to bait a hook, how to shoot a gun, how to bargain, and how to interact with others. If we're being honest, those are about the only life skills you really need.
8. Sportsmanship
My dad was an athlete growing up, and when I was finally able to join sports, he made sure I was in everything I could be. In fact, he coached me in half of the sports I played. Not only did he teach me how to throw a ball and dribble, but he taught me the importance of sportsmanship. You win some, you lose some; but when you lose, you don't throw a fit, and when you win, you don't throw it in the losing team's face.
