Dads Need Encouragement Too. Here’s How to Give It

Honor Your Dad Like a 5th Grader

For years, we ran a Father of the Year Essay Contest across the country. Kids submitted heartfelt, funny, sometimes tear-jerking entries about their dads.

And every spring, we were reminded:
Dads matter. A lot.

We read thousands of essays, but two 5th-grade entries still shine like gold in our archives. They weren’t professionally polished or flowery. They were raw, real, and unforgettable.

Take Serena’s words:

“Did you know that a hero doesn’t need to have super powers or fancy underwear? Well, they don’t. My dad is my hero and he definitely doesn’t have fancy underwear, or super powers for that matter! But he is brave and I won’t say he is not strong, but he is stronger in the heart.”

Or Max’s enthusiastic tribute:

“You think your dad is awesome? My dad can catch a football 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 yards away. Well, maybe it’s just 35 yards. He still rocks!”

No doubt, some of you were celebrated last week on Father’s Day with notes just like these—written in crayon, filled with exaggerated stats, and signed with sticky fingers.

And it feels amazing, doesn’t it?

But here’s the flip side:
You’re not just a father—you’re a son.

And maybe this is the year you pick up a pen.

The Power of a Tribute

Cards and gifts are wonderful. Phone calls are meaningful. But sometimes the most powerful expression is written in your own words—a personal tribute to your dad or father figure.

It doesn’t have to be poetic. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
It just has to be you.

Write down:

• A few traits he modeled that you still carry.
• A memory that makes you smile.
• A moment when his sacrifice or wisdom shaped your life.

Even if your relationship isn’t perfect.
Even if there’s pain in the past.
Even if you’re still healing.

Honor is not about perfection.
It’s about recognition.
It’s about saying, “I see what you did. And it mattered.”

Let the Kids In On It, Too

What if this year, you invited your kids to join in?
Encourage them to write something for their grandfather—a story, a picture, a simple “thank you.”

Let them experience the joy of giving.
Let them learn the art of honoring.

And in the process, they’ll begin to understand the value of legacy—how our stories, our strength, our sacrifice, and even our flaws are all part of a family line worth cherishing.

A Legacy of Words

If you’re not sure where to start, begin like a 5th grader would:

“My dad is my hero…”
“One thing I’ll never forget is…”
“Even though we don’t always say it, I’m grateful for…”

These words don’t gather dust.
They carry weight.
They echo into generations.

This spring, don’t just celebrate Father’s Day.
Make it a milestone.

Honor your dad.
Model that for your kids.
And remember: sometimes, a short handwritten note can carry more love than all the fancy gifts in the world.

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