5 Things I’ve Learned From My Father

It’s that time of year again. The time when I run out to the driveway with my sponge and some Dove and scrub the tires of my car like a woman with a purpose. It’s Father’s Day. And nothing makes my father happier than his reflection in my shiny Hyundai rims. But I love my Dad for that.  He has really taught me to stay responsible, even if it means getting a little dirt in my fingernails. Along with keeping my car clean as a whistle, I’ve learned a lot of things from my Daddy.  And Fathers Day is a perfect time to give a grand salute to all of the things he’s taught me.

By Brittany

However, keep in mind, fatherly advice is different from motherly advice.  While mothers dish the advice directly and constantly, fathers stick little golden nuggets of advice under the surface.  Think about it, dudes never have been the ones to express their feelings and yack people’s ears off.  They are simple beings.  And my Dad is the simplest human being I know. That’s why I wanted to share five lessons I’ve learned from him.

1. Collecting coupons and saving your money is key to an stress-free life.

If there is anyone who is money savvy — it’s my father.  He’s taught me so many valuable lessons about spending. He doesn’t understand those weird purchases I make and instead tries to convince me to collect coupons and stash money away in envelopes for loans and paying off my car payments.  I’m smart with money because of my Dad.  I second guess buying that cuticle cream I’ll never need because of my Dad. I don’t live in a box because of my Dad.

2. A clean car makes for a clear mind.

I don’t know about other dads, but mine takes a lot of pride in the cars he drives. He always preaches to me; “Brittany, I don’t hire anyone with a messy car.  You can tell the type of person you are by how messy the inside of your car is.” And now that I think about it, that’s totally true.  When the inside of my car looks like a twister went through it, I feel disorganized and unprofessional. But when it’s cleaner than an operation table, I feel . . . kind of fabulous.

3. You’re never going to find someone as good as me.

Ok, this sounds bad at first. Because I know I’m going to find someone as great as my dad, and he knows it too.  But he always tells me this with a little laugh.  He is a fabulous and kind-hearted person.  He wants me to raise the bar and find someone who really cares about me as much as he does.  And I shouldn’t settle for anything less than that.

4. The grass is greener where you water it.

I think it’s a guy thing, but my Dad takes pride in a well-kept lawn. He’ll spend hours on end perfecting which portions of the grass the sprinklers hit and which direction he pushes the lawn mower. What have I learned from this? It shows when I take care of things.  If I don’t work my butt off, tell people how I feel, and water the grass where it’s getting a little brown — things aren’t going to turn out as pretty. Literally and figuratively. He has taught me that I really have to put a strong effort into anything I really want in life.

5. You have a lot of good stuff.

Lastly, my Dad has taught me to be grateful. It’s really an easy feat. Take advantage of everything I have in life – even if I’ve earned it. He’s taught me to continue to work hard for what I truly deserve, respect what I make happen, and keep working hard to make it better.

Happy Father’s Day to all the great Dads out there!  Go ahead, what sweet things has your Dad taught you?