Greetings dads (and children of dads)!
Welcome to the Saturday before Father’s Day, where we hopefully get a chance to recognize the fathers, dads, papas, and any other men in our lives who helped lift us up throughout life. I know I wouldn’t be here without those influences, and I can only hope I’m living up to that role for my amazing children.
In the spirit of fatherly generosity, I’m happy to share with you some of my favorite reading, writing, and randomness to brighten your weekend. And if you’re still shopping for a Father’s Day gift, why not give him a great book? (Dad doesn’t need to know that it was FREE 😁)
But first, a quote from one of the famous fathers of the Roman Empire:
Quote of the Week:
“Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one. ”
— Marcus Aurelius
A Pulitzer-Prize-Winning Papa:
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Many of my earliest memories of my dad involve books: he worked at several bookstores when I was young, and he’d bring home new stories all the time to share with me. I remember the bedtime stories, from Babar to The Butter Battle Book. My dad read all the time, poring over The Divine Comedy or collections of poetry. Without saying a word, he sent me a simple but powerful message: men read.
Since my dad’s nose was so often in a book, I tended to notice fathers in books over the years. When I reflect on the most outstanding dads in literature, some of the first ones that came to mind were Ned Stark from A Game of Thrones and the unnamed father in The Road. However, I’d wager most of us agree the most memorable male parent in all of literature is Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. While he is not without controversy, Atticus remains a model of intelligence, compassion, and decency to both his children and his community. We could all do far worse than follow his example as a father.
A Writing about Fatherhood:
“Fatherhood: A Charge, Not a Sinecure.” I wrote this blog post a few years ago on Father’s Day, and I think it still rings true now. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t always uphold the ideals I express here, so I need this post as a reminder as much as anyone. Few things are totally certain in this world, but I believe this is undeniable: My greatest purpose is to be the best dad I can be for my kids.
Random Dad Jokes:
The Dadabase. Sure, moms can be funny, but dads are infamous for their humor (or lack thereof). As a dad, I am contractually obligated to make groan-inducing jokes at least once a day, ideally while my kids are with their friends. Although I’ve been preparing for this duty my whole life, I sometimes need a little help refreshing my stockpile of puns.
Enter The Dadabase: a growing collection of one-liners, wisecracks, and witticisms that will make even the most jaded teenager grin (or at least give you a satisfying eyeroll). There’s no shame borrowing a few of these humorous gems — just like my roof, they’re on the house.
And that's it! What did you think? Please share Lau’s Little List with anyone who you think would enjoy my recommendations!
I would greatly appreciate any feedback you'd like to provide. Which tip was your favorite? What would you like to see more or less of in the next installment? Do you have any other suggestions? Feel free to leave a comment below with your thoughts.
M. J. Lau
PS: Clutch.