What Is a Dad?
A dad is someone who
wants to catch you before you fall
but instead picks you up,
brushes you off,
and lets you try again.
A dad is someone who
wants to keep you from making mistakes
but instead lets you find your own way,
even though his heart breaks in silence
when you get hurt.
A dad is someone who
holds you when you cry,
scolds you when you break the rules,
shines with pride when you succeed,
and has faith in you even when you fail…
—Unknown
At Caring Hearts, we always look forward to Father’s Day (and Mother’s Day, too, of course!). We help fathers around the country deal with the challenges of aging or illness, allowing them to live independently at home. We also lend a hand to Sandwich Generation caregiver dads caring for elderly loved ones, freeing up time to spend with their own kids and spouse.
Father’s Day means different things to different people. Men who are anticipating a baby are anxiously waiting for the moment they become “Dad.” Many of us are able to celebrate the day with Dad, while others can’t get home for the weekend and must make do with phone calls or send cards. Others, like me, must spend the day remembering cherished memories. Still, others are spending more time than they would prefer with their father, as they have taken on caregiving responsibilities that have slowly but surely escalated.
Whatever your situation, Father’s Day marks a special opportunity to honor fathers everywhere and say Thank You for all they’ve done for us.
To me, Father’s Day is all about celebrating the moment. Whether you are anticipating your first child, calling home to say “I love you,” or just reminiscing, I want to encourage you to make time to be thankful for the moments you share with loved ones. Find time to enjoy life with them today and every day. In the end, these moments together are all we have.
The Longest Day
As you may know, this Father’s Day is also The Longest Day. The Alzheimer’s Association has designated the summer solstice, the day of the year with the most hours of sunlight, as an annual day to raise awareness of and funds for Alzheimer’s disease.
For many families, it’s fitting that this day devoted to fighting Alzheimer’s disease falls on Father’s Day since so many children are helping fathers and grandfathers who are suffering from Alzheimer’s or other dementias. It is estimated that 250,000 children under 18 provide help to someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, and 20% of all adult caregivers are looking after the needs of an older person with dementia.
So while you spend the day thinking about Dad and enjoying your moments together, please also consider sharing the latest facts about Alzheimer’s disease on Facebook or your other social networks.