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Getting to Know Dad - FotoFamilyMinute

In my post “6 Crafty Photo Ideas for Dad” from earlier this week, I told you about some crafty photo gifts that I found on FamilyFun.com. Gifts are great, but as the kid in all of us knows, the best gifts of all are time and caring.

Some people do not have a father, but honor that someone who was the “father figure” in their life, such as an uncle or grandfather. Some fathers have great relationships with their children and keep their experiences and opinions as an open book to enhance their family’s lives, while other men tend to be stoic and closed off, feeling that, though they love their children, it’s more of the mother’s place to talk about all that “touchy-feely” stuff. To those of you whose Dad is in the latter category, you have your work cut out for you, but might I suggest that when you call or go see your Dad this Father’s Day that you take a little extra time to visit and really get to know him?

Depending on if your father is the first guy or the last guy that I described, starting the dialog may not be easy, but don’t sweat it. Just start out by asking how week was, or start talking about the latest sporting event. (HINT: The NBA finals were this week. Find out who he was rooting for.) Once you start talking, just go from there. Hopefully, this will be the first of many talks with your dad

While your are with your dad, ask things about him that you don’t know such as him tick and what makes him the man that he is. Treat this opportunity as if you were a reporter who was granted a once in a lifetime, one-on-one interview a famous person. You don’t have to be Jimmy Olson sitting there with a pen and pencil jotting down everything that comes out of his mouth. Just take good mental notes.

Here are some ideas about what questions to ask:

Where did you grow up and where did you do your growing up (maturing)?

Tell me about your family (your parents and siblings).

How did you meet my mother?

What was the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?

Where is the most exotic place that you have ever been and how did you come to find yourself there?

What was the most scared you have ever been in your life and how did you handle it?

Where did I get my name? — or — How did you and mom come up with my name?

What are some family traditions that you remember while growing up?

What is the most important thing that I should learn and live by as a member of our family? — or — What does it mean to you to be a [fill in your last name]?

What do you do or think about when you are alone (laying in bed, on the commute to work, doing yard work, etc)?

If you had all the power in the world, how would you make the world a better place?

Tell me about your religious beliefs, what’s important to you and why you believe in what you do.

What was your proudest moment?

What was the lowest point of your life and how did you recover from it?

Tell me about a time in your life when you had a lot of trials. What were they and how did you handle them?

What sports did you play growing up? — or — What is your favorite sport?

What is the strangest thing you have eaten? Where did you eat it and did you like it?

How did you spend your Friday and Saturday nights when you were my age?

Who is someone who influenced your path in life? What did that person do that affected you?

If you could do it all over again, what would you change?

What goals do you have for the rest of your life?

Describe your perfect day.

What are you top 10 “rules for life”? (ex: “I don’t do anything in life where there is no margin for error, such as jumping out of a plane.”)

While you are there with Dad, ask yourself if you have a recent picture of you with your dad. What about pictures of your dad when he was a child? This is the perfect photo-op to break out the camera and record a memory. Speaking of recording, you can also tape or video tape “interview”. Pictures are great but having your Dad’s voice recorded or even a “moving picture” of him will be priceless years after he is gone.

I myself have a good relationship with my father, and especially now that I am grown and have a family of my own, I enjoy talking with him and hearing him talk about his life. (Imagine that!) Nonetheless, almost every time I talk to my dad on the phone, I learn something new about his life. This Father’s Day, I too am going to make a special effort to fill in some of those missing details of my Dad’s life.

Until next time,
-Texaiano

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