The Things Dad Taught Me Part2

 

The Things Dad Taught Me

A Father's Day Story & Poem Collection

The Story

I remember the morning Dad woke me before sunrise, his weathered hands gently shaking my shoulder. "Come on, kiddo," he whispered, "the fish are waiting." I stumbled out of bed, still rubbing sleep from my eyes, as he handed me the thermos of hot chocolate he'd already prepared.

Down at the lake, mist rose from the water like ghostly fingers. Dad showed me how to thread the worm onto the hook—something that made me squirm at first, but his patient hands guided mine until I could do it myself. We sat in comfortable silence as our lines disappeared into the dark water, and he taught me that sometimes the best conversations happen without words at all.

"Patience," he'd say when I grew restless. "Good things come to those who wait." Years later, I'd remember those words during job interviews, difficult relationships, and moments when life felt overwhelming.

When I was seven, my shiny new bike seemed like a mountain to climb. Dad ran alongside me for what felt like hours, his hand steady on my back, his voice a constant stream of encouragement. "I've got you," he'd call out as I wobbled forward. "You're doing great!"

The moment he let go—though I didn't realize it until I looked back—I was flying on my own. But even then, he was right there, arms outstretched, ready to catch me if I fell. That's when I learned that sometimes love means letting go, but never going far.

But my favorite memories are of bedtime stories. Not the ones from books, though we read plenty of those, but the ones Dad made up on the spot. Adventures where I was always the hero, facing down dragons and solving mysteries with nothing but courage and kindness. His voice would rise and fall with the action, making sound effects that sent me into giggles.

"What happens next, Dad?" I'd ask, fighting sleep.

"Well," he'd say, dimming the light, "that's tomorrow's story."

Those stories taught me that imagination could take you anywhere, that every ending could be a happy one if you were brave enough to write it that way.

Now, as an adult, I realize Dad wasn't just teaching me to fish, ride a bike, or fall asleep peacefully. He was teaching me patience, independence, and wonder. He was showing me that love isn't just said—it's lived in early morning wake-up calls, steady hands when you're learning to balance, and voices that turn ordinary bedtimes into magical adventures.

The fish we caught have long been forgotten, the bike has been outgrown, and I no longer need bedtime stories. But the lessons remain, woven into who I am today. And someday, when I have children of my own, I'll wake them before sunrise and whisper, "Come on, kiddo. Let me show you what my dad taught me."

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The Poem

Dad's Gentle Hands

Before the sun kissed morning skies, You'd wake me with your gentle eyes, "Come fishing, child, the lake awaits," While darkness slowly dissipates.

Your weathered hands showed mine the way, To thread the hook and cast away, In silence sitting, side by side, You taught me patience as our guide.

When shiny wheels seemed far too tall, And fear of falling made me stall, You ran beside me, strong and true, "I've got you, kid, I've got you."

The moment that you let me go, I soared ahead, but didn't know That even free, you stayed nearby, Ready to catch me if I'd cry.

But oh, those stories late at night, When you would dim the bedroom light, Adventures spun from love so deep, To carry me to peaceful sleep.

You made me hero of each tale, Where courage could never fail, "What happens next?" I'd always ask, "Tomorrow's story," you'd unmask.

Now grown, I see what you have done, Not teaching tasks, but making one— A person built from all you gave, Patient, free, and wonder-brave.

The fish we caught may swim away, The bike's been given to child's play, But in my heart your lessons stay, Forever and a Father's Day.

 #FathersDay #Childhood #Memories #Family #Love #Fishing #BikeRiding #BedtimeStories #LifeLessons #Nostalgia #Parenting #GrowingUp

 #FathersDayPoem #Poetry #Dad #ChildhoodMemories #FamilyLove #Heartwarming #Sentimental #Gratitude #Appreciation #Legacy

 #Patience #Independence #Wonder #Teaching #Bonding #Tradition #Wisdom #Guidance #Support #Unconditional Love

Thanks for reading this......Enjyaya