People talk about the “dad bod,” but having a beer belly doesn’t make someone a dad. Being a dad means changing diapers, pushing strollers, holding hands while crossing a street, teaching to ride a bike, school drop-offs and pickups, helping with homework, and doing a thousand other things that seem insignificant, but collectively help children grow into the people they become.
This month’s cover story celebrates dads who’ve done these things and more. When I first read Jennifer’s quote about how her dad, “pops by with toilet paper or cereal saying, ‘I was just at Costco…,’” I laughed out loud because that is something my dad did too.
My dad has been gone for five years, and I miss him every day. I miss his random calls asking about my day, his stories about growing up in Depression-era Montana, and him singing about stepping on a poptop while making margaritas. I remember our drives to McDonald’s for hot fudge sundaes, him teaching me everything I know about cars and riding shotgun on cross-country summer vacations. Most of all, I miss the example he set. With dad gone, I have had to figure out fatherhood on my own. Don’t wait for June 21 to tell your dad how much you care.