Shawn Maxam never needed to hear grand speeches from his father just a few simple words would have been nice.

My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.

-Jim Valvano

We often bemoan dads for being non-communicative or for stereotypical silence. Fathers who do engage tend to be potrayed as very emotionally eloquent and nurturing. I never had such lofty goals for my father. A few simple phrases would have sufficed. A few of them are:

I love you.

I’m proud of you.

Are you okay?

I’m sorry.

I was wrong/I made a mistake.

I know that my dad doesn’t say these things because his dad never said them to him. So I have decided to break they cycle. Not only will I say such intimate phrases to my children. I’m going to make more phone calls and genuinely say them to my dad.

Read more Shawn Maxam here.

Why Fathers Matter

Please share this with friends, enemies and temporary allies alike.