17/06/2026
**What Father’s Day Felt Like Growing Up**
For some kids, Father’s Day meant breakfast in bed, handmade cards, and photos with Dad.
For others, it felt like sitting quietly while everyone else shared stories you couldn't relate to.
It felt like being asked to make a Father's Day card when you didn't know who to give it to.
It felt like pretending it didn't matter.
Like watching classmates celebrate something that felt distant, complicated, or missing.
Maybe it felt like longing.
Maybe it felt like anger.
Maybe it felt like nothing at all.
And sometimes, Father's Day wasn't about a father—it was about the people who stepped in, stayed, protected, provided, or loved when they didn't have to.
Growing up teaches you that families don't always look the same. Some fathers are present. Some are absent. Some are remembered. Some are mourned. Some are still being forgiven.
Father's Day can be a celebration, but for many, it's also a reminder of what was lost, what never was, or what they had to learn to live without.
And that's a story worth acknowledging too. ❤️
