Tag: father

As Father’s Day approaches, many of us take time to contemplate just how powerful the paternal influence can be. For good or for ill, the lessons fathers teach impact their children for the rest of their lives. My own father was not only a great dad, but his unmatchable fortitude taught me how to overcome incredible odds and survive my own devastating illness.

Six years ago, I was diagnosed with the gene for Huntington’s disease, a hereditary illness that presents like a combination of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and schizophrenia combined. John Mattinson, my father, who also has HD, has been diagnosed for 25 years, but also had symptoms for many years prior.

My father has always been a quiet, introspective man. Though he says little, the things he says say a lot. His presence around the words he chooses to speak say even more.

However, my father is a lot more than just quiet and introspective. He’s generous. He’s kind. He’s hardworking and he’s curious about the world. Ever a reader, my father, for as long as I can remember, spends his evenings after family dinner times in his study reading everything from The New York Times to Sky and Telescope to the latest psychiatry journal.

Fathers. What would we do without them? Here we are, with Father’s Day right around the corner, and there is no better time to take a look at what the father’s in our lives mean to us. Dads have some very tough shoes to fill. Although one day a year is hardly enough to honor and recognize all that the father’s in our lives do, Father’s Day is a good place to start.

Looking at my own father, I see a man of strength and tenacity. Though he might not have gotten the fatherhood job description down perfectly, my father was a man of deep commitment. He believed in the ideal of family.

A good old-fashioned barbecue is a great way to honor Dad (your husband) this Father's Day. What dad wouldn't enjoy a backyard barbecue, especially when he is the guest of honor? With a little thought and planning, this year’s barbecue bash could be the start of an annual Father's Day tradition. Here are 14 ways to get things cooking.

Plan the guest list. Decide if the barbecue is going to include only immediate family or if friends and extended family will be a part of the day. Older children can be responsible for addressing and mailing out the invitations.