Being a dad changed my life. What does being a father mean to you? Tell us.
Being a dad changed my life. What does being a father mean to you? Tell us. | Opinion What would you like to tell your dad or a father figure in your life this Father's Day? Share it below.
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Watch dad break down when Airman daughter returns home after 3 years
Derrick was overcome with emotion when his Airman daughter, Bree, surprised him on his birthday in Oakland, Mississippi, after three years apart.
I'll be happy if my two sons become successful and independent people. But that might also break my heart. Because it will mean they need me less.
Sure, I'm glad to be past the dirty diaper phase. And I don't want to do their laundry my whole life. Or pick up the cans, plates and socks that they tuck into the strangest corners.
Believe me, there are things I won't miss. Or maybe, kind of, I will.
I guess my best hope is that they'll keep feeling I'm a good person to talk to. And that they'll keep coming back.
Those are some of the feelings that bubble up as I think about Father's Day. But they're far from universal. Fatherhood has changed radically over the last century, and life circumstances mean we have very different experiences with the men who make up half of our DNA.
Some have never known their biological fathers. For others, fathers have left or died, often creating great gaps in their lives. Some have found true fathers in men who are not related to them by blood.
Your Turn: 'I love you' was the last thing I said to her. Mom, I hope I made you proud. | Opinion Forum
We would love to hear about your experiences with your father – or as a father – or both. We're inviting you to write us and share those experiences. We'll select some to publish in our Forum feature on Father's Day.
What's your take on Father's Day?
To submit your take on Father's Day, you can fill out the form below or send us an email to forum@usatoday.com with the subject line 'Forum Father's Day.'
Here are some questions you could answer to get you started:
What would you like to tell your dad or a father figure in your life this Father's Day?
What do you wish your dad knew about you or his impact on your life?
Do you think Father's Day is treated differently than Mother's Day? What is your favorite Father's Day memory or tradition?
Joel Burgess is a Voices editor for the USA TODAY Network. He lives in Asheville, North Carolina, where he worked as a reporter for more than two decades.
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