You and Your Dad
By Amber
@AmbiePam (95874)
United States
February 4, 2025 2:36pm CST
I was wondering if this was something that’s just been the last decade or so, or if I just wasn’t aware of these events years ago. Annelyn (pictured), my 5 year old niece, is dressed for the Kings and Princesses Luau at their church the other night. Amyra went to a King and Princesses Sock Hop when she was around Annelyn’s age. I don’t think events like these were common when I was a kid, over 30 years ago. I thinks it is sweet (yes, they have mother/son events too). But I’ve heard of other churches doing this, and some regular community centers having them too. Anyone familiar with them? I think they’re sweet.
What special things did you do with your dad as a child?
28 people like this
26 responses
@Tampa_girl7 (51359)
• United States
4 Feb
They didn’t have these things when I was a child either. My daddy read a lot to me. He taught me to ride a bike, If there was a spooky movie that I didn’t want to watch alone he would stay up and watch it with me. He did so many things with us. Swimming and playing in the water or playing in the snow are two of my favorite things that we did together. Photo is of the last time we were in Tampa together at the zoo.
8 people like this
@MarieCoyle (40698)
•
5 Feb
We didn’t have events like that when I was young, but I do think they are really special!
She’s such a cutie!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (82414)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 Feb
My dad was the editor of the Latvian newspaper. He worked just a few blocks from our apartment. Mom worked in Manhattan. Dad has days off like Thursdays because he was expected to attend Latvian events and report on them on weekends. When he had the time off he would not take me to school I mean I was in kindergarten and he would take me to zoos and other places for kids even to kid movies,
3 people like this



@much2say (57145)
• Los Angeles, California
4 Feb
Awww, she is gorgeous! I know some schools have such events these days too . . . we never had that. It was rare that we had daughter/dad moments. But there are things I can remember doing solely with my dad. He taught me how to drive . . . he taught me to catch and throw a baseball in our baseball days . . . he taught me Japanese brush calligraphy . . . little big things like that.
3 people like this
@much2say (57145)
• Los Angeles, California
6 Feb
@AmbiePam All my classmates in my Japanese language school on Saturdays took it afterschool. My parents didn't put me in it because I was left handed . . . Japanese brush calligraphy is supposed to be done with the right hand . . . they thought it would be difficult for me. I learned to paint right handed with my dad
. . . but later taught myself doing it left handed anyway.

1 person likes this
@sallypup (62736)
• Centralia, Washington
4 Feb
@AmbiePam Thank you. Childhood is often out of our control. I knew my Dad when I was little- I don't remember that time. Then my Mom got together with her first husband and somehow or other the family ended back in Minnesota. Later, as a teen, I went back to WA state and had some sweet teen years on a farm. I had a love you hate you relationship. Dad was a very physically ill man who also was a mill worker, cowboy and farm worker. He gave me a kid safe horse. And on we went.....
1 person likes this

@snowy22315 (185072)
• United States
4 Feb
Sounds like fun, We liked going to his softball games when we were young. Their team was first in the league and all the players got trophies. He liked to tell us stories, and he also taught us to ride bikes and fish.
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (52177)
• Canada
4 Feb
It sounds like something new since I was a child or since I was raising a child.
Won't my son have fun taking 2 dates to something like that? 
I have to say that Annelyn looks so lovely, all dressed up like a little lady here.
My Dad did some special things all on his own when I was growing up over the years, he was always so good at surprising me.
When I began going to the teen dances at the hall in the town close to us, Dad would 'bartend' so that he could keep an eye on me. Bartending a teen dance was easy since all he had to do was take the money for the glass of pop that he was filling for the person. Alot of parents would ask him about their kids, and it wasn't too long before alot of Dads volunteered for that duty.


2 people like this

@Juliaacv (52177)
• Canada
4 Feb
@AmbiePam Thanks, he was so much fun.
Growing up on a farm, we didn't have things that people who worked in town had.
I remember in late April, he would be out in the field for 5:30 in the morning, before I was up for school, and he wouldn't come in until dark, usually 9 Or sometimes 10pm.
I would miss him terribly.
I would make sandwiches for him, wrap them in wax paper, and some small canning jars for pickles, cut up the way that he liked them or fresh radishes, and then a mason jar for milk, and put it into the carrier on the front of my bicycle, and ride over to the field that he would be working at. He could always count on me to come along and share a few minutes while he had his supper. My mother would still feed him a hot meal when he came in, but I just needed to see him and he never discouraged me from going out to the field.
I remember all too well the day that we went out to their place when our son was staying there after I had Brittany. Dad came in and asked where Brittany was, we had an appointment with a pediatric cardiologist that day in another city, and he was concerned. I told him that Brittany was admitted to the hospital because the doctor listened to her heart and found that she was in heart failure. Being a humbly religious man, he marched over to the phone and dialed the church and asked Carol, the secretary for the Pastor. He explained the situation and that Brittany hadn't been baptized at that point. The Pastor advised him that he personally knew the pastor at the children's hospital and he would call him and ask him to see us.
We were not known in a city an hour away, but Dad got the ball rolling. When the Pastor did not come to the hospital as arranged, I called a church, just like Dad did from our hotel room. I told him my name and the situation, and he asked if I was John G's daughter-which amazed me, but he knew him and he consoled me and helped me over the phone. His name went further than he knew it would. I was grateful for that conversation and I felt it was so intesnese as the pastor knew my Dad.
1 person likes this

@JudyEv (345994)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Feb
@AmbiePam I remember we were laying grating in a new shearing shed once. The slats needed to be the right distance apart. My job was to hold two bolts arms length apart. Dad would position the slot up against the bolts then nail it it position. I'd remove the bolts and put them against the new slat and so it continued. I wonder if this makes any sort of sense to you. 



1 person likes this

@NJChicaa (121261)
• United States
4 Feb
@AmbiePam When I spoke at my dad's memorial service I started it out by saying that it always annoyed/offended me as a teenager to be told that I looked just like my dad. What 18 year old girl wants to hear that she looks like her 40 year old dad? I concluded it by saying that I consider it an honor these days to hear that I look like the best person I've ever known.
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (84552)
• Rupert, Idaho
4 Feb
Very nice photo. I can't really weigh in on this; I didn't grow up with a father. I never even knew he existed till I was 16.
2 people like this
@MommyOfEli2013 (84552)
• Rupert, Idaho
5 Feb
@AmbiePam Well I am pretty sure he was a sick person, definitely don't think I was planned if that says anything. But I do wonder all I missed out on not having a father around.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3438)
• India
5 Feb
I was not aware of the event. Good to know there are such events now. My dad would take me to amusement parks when I was a child. He would get me food or items I loved especially toys. We never did things together , not because he never wanted to . His job , financial challenges and family troubles all kept him busy. As I grew up , I understand his challenges and we would have our interactions over the lunch , dinner or may be while watching the TV. He did try whatever was possible , atleast I believe so. I do wish he did spend time with me more and well now he is in heavens watching me struggle with my challenges in life. However, whatever he did for me , I cherish each and every moment . Hope your pain and issues are all gone. Take care!
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (95874)
• United States
5 Feb
@RevivedWarrior It is a LOT better, thank you.
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@RevivedWarrior (3438)
• India
5 Feb
@AmbiePam You are very kind in your words. My father hopefully is proud of me. Hope your pain has gone?
1 person likes this

@somewitch (2021)
•
4 Feb
So pretty, I hope she had a blast!
I don't recall parties like this but the usual holiday-related parties that were fun nevertheless.
I'd visit places such as a themed park, the zoo or just have walks/hikes in nature with dad as a child.

2 people like this
@GardenGerty (162112)
• United States
5 Feb
I spent time in the garage with my dad. He let me try to use a screwdriver, set up an easel for me to draw on, and other times I sat in the pick up and pumped the brakes while he bled them. Our community has a yearly Father/Daughter dance. I think the moms are just expected to go to sporting events with their sons. Oh, and my dad did my homework with me in the early mornings and untangled the heated curlers from my hair as a teen. He dug goats head thorns out of my feet when I got them from going barefoot.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (140548)
• India
4 Feb
We were in awe and there was a distance. But I do remebere when I came crying to him from school - my first day, asking him that my name be changed as I had come across so many names on that day. But when he told me that I got my nme after his mother I accepted it.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (111415)
• Marion, Ohio
5 Feb
We didn't have anything like that when I was a kid. I don't remember anything with my boys either
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@Fleura (31006)
• United Kingdom
4 Feb
Never heard of anything like that here.
When I was little I used to go with him to visit his mother (my only grandparent) and then we would go down to the river and he would tech me to skim stones. It was he who taught me to read and to do maths. We used to have a 'spelling bee' too.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (16658)
• Raurkela, India
5 Feb
My dad was a very angry man and we avoided him when we were children.
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@aninditasen (16658)
• Raurkela, India
6 Feb
@AmbiePam He calmed down as he grew old and then we spoke to him freely.
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