All of these characteristics describe my dad, a man who i have been blessed to know my whole life. I could write for hours about the "big" moments we've celebrated together, but this Father's day, I'd like to take a moment to recognize the little things that make my Dad special to me.
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Dear Dad,
Thank you, Dad, for understanding that your little girl is in love with animals, especially the large four-legged kind. While you may not ride often, or understand why I'd rather spend hours at the barn, covered in dirt and sweat, arguing with an animal 10x my size, you support my obsession anyway. You patiently held horses at shows for last minute preparation, made numerous food runs, and spent many Saturday's waiting to watch your little girl show her horse.
Thanks, Dad, for telling corny jokes, never missing an opportunity for puns, and making weird faces to make me smile & laugh even when I've had a bad day. Even though I may have rolled my eyes or made a sarcastic comment, those moments really did make me feel better.
Thank you, Dad, for setting high expectations and giving us responsibilities. While it added extra pressure (who wants to let down their dad?!?), and may have seemed unfair at times, I understand now that you were only trying to prepare me for real-world expectations & responsibilities as an adult.
Thanks, Dad, for reading countless term papers, articles, and essays late at night, spot checking for grammar errors and missing punctuation. You've earned the well-respected title of "Grammar Dad" in our house for a reason, and I'm a better writer because of your help.
Thank you, Dad for teaching me that it's okay to be opinionated, and to disagree with someone, but you must be polite and civil about it. I know we've had several disagreements in the past, and I'm sure there will be more to come.
Thanks, Dad, for allowing me to make my own decisions, and giving me the opportunity to fail, even though I know you'd much rather send me down the correct path to begin with. I'm sure it's not easy watching me make mistakes and experiencing failure or pain...but the fact that you're there to pick me up when I fall, that's what matters.
Thank you, Dad, for just being you. You truly are the best dad a girl could wish for, and I hope to spend many more years enjoying life with you.
Love,
Your Daughter