A Father’s Day Note
I’ve been thinking a lot about dads lately (obviously, because it's Father's Day).
I'm not talking about the kind you see in Father’s Day commercials with matching socks and a shiny new grill. I'm talking about the real-life kind. The ones who walk through the door at the end of a long day, boots still on, and get immediately swarmed by little people who’ve been waiting all day to see them.
That’s the kind of dad my kids have.
He'll spend a long day in the field planting crops or harvesting haylage before the rain comes. Even with all that, he still manages to keep the kids entertained as they want to sit right next to him at breakfast, ask a ton of questions, steal his food, and get him to hold them (seated in the chair right next to him isn't close enough, you know?). They don't see how tired he is. They want to be where he is.
And if I’m honest, I do too.
Della’s already showing signs of her dad in the best ways. She’s got his hyper-organized tendencies. And Leo, well, I think he’s got that quiet ability to read a room. He also seems to have a streak of orneriness that keeps us on our toes. But that just might be inherited, too.
Farming doesn’t leave much time for fanfare. There are no sick days or slow seasons, not really. And yet, I’ve watched Ethan give our kids the kind of presence that doesn’t ask for applause. He’s just there.
And it’s not just him.
I was raised by a dad like this, too. The kind who worked hard, said little, and led by showing up. Ethan was also raised by one. We both know what a gift that is. And this Father’s Day, we’re thankful for them just as much. We hope their legacy lives on in the way we parent, in the life we’re building, and in the way our kids learn what love looks like.
So, here’s to the farm dads. The ones who lead with quiet strength, who teach by example, who fix what’s broken without needing to say a word.
If you have a dad like that, I hope you tell him.
If you are a dad like that, I hope you know how much it matters.
If today feels hard because you’re missing your dad, I hope you feel seen, too.
The sweetest part of summer. 🍓
Nothing better than a hug from your girl.
Just a boy and his dad, starting the day right.
— Allie