Father's Day...

It's been Father's Day in the UK so it's been out and about for lunch at The Lime Tree. On the way we stopped off at ODDEST for a pre lunch drink. In the corner near where we sat were this couple with their very new, baby son. At one point the guy's partner went to the bar to order something leaving dad with the baby. We shouldn't deal in stereotypes, but this big guy with his long, biker hair didn't look like your archetypical dad but he was totally into his baby son and gently cradled him, patting his back, supporting his head and gently comforting him. I took these pictures.

We got talking to them. People are always willing to talk about their babies. The baby is called Che, after Che Guevara; we are in Chorlton after all. I don't know much about Che Guevara to be honest, I really need to look him up. But back to baby Che. He's three months old and their first child. So father and son were out enjoying their first Father's Day together. Watching them together and listening to how proud he was of his son, I think Che is going to grow up fine.

It got me thinking about dads. They are so important. They are half of the team that creates the people we are. A girl's first relationship with a male will be with her father and this will influence how she interacts with other boys and men who come into her life. It's that important.

If it's important for girls it is vital for boys. Boys learn how to be men by watching the men about them, none more important than the father. If that relationship is wrong or missing, it will have an adverse effect on the son. A father son relationship goes through different stages. First men today are much more hands on with the raising of their baby sons. As the son grows, dad will be the one who being to open the world for his son, letting him grow and learn while keeping a watchful eye on his for dangers.

In his teen years , a good dad will give his son some space to develop his personality and learn how to cope with the world. It can be a difficult time as the son goes through those couple of difficult years when he thinks he knows it all. Dad may have to bite his lip occasionally and realise this phase will pass and, if the son has had a good upbringing, he will come good in the end. Mark Twain put it brilliantly about his relationship with his father in his teen years....

“When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”

Once the son has grown to full manhood, the relationship will change again. They will be friends as equals now but with dad always being someone that the son can, if he is wise, fall back on for support and encouragement. Dads are important. It's been good to have a day to celebrate them.