Dot Pretty Brainy

The Bond between Fathers and Daughters Can Be Remarkable

Decades before I ever designed a girls’ printed tee, my dad bought me two printed tees that I literally wore to shreds. One championed the Cincinnati Reds. The other, the Cincinnati Bengals. He bought those graphic tees for me knowing what I valued and knowing I would feel like me when I wore them.

By contrast, my mother would have given me what she wanted me to wear, based on her notion of who I should be.

That was one big difference between Mom and Dad. And it is anecdotal of the remarkable bond that exists between dads and daughters: our dads, because of their role as our dads, have the capacity to love us without placing conditions on giving us their love.

Dad is 80 this year. Several years ago my step-sisters gave him the perfect Fathers’ Day gift: a pontoon boat from which he fished the full day on a quiet lake. This year I will endeavor to give him a good runner-up: a home-cooked meal (he likes my cooking) and his favorite dessert: pie a la mode.

What would you do for your dad? If you were to spend the entire day with him, what would you plan?

Pretty Brainy asked ’tween girls this question to mark the bond between fathers and daughters for Fathers’ Day 2010. We also asked, “What do you like about your dad?”

Preteen girls have their say:

Photography: Ashley Swett. Interviews: Sandra Tanner.

Angelita, age 12

On Her Dad: “I like that even when the going gets tough, he strives for things. He is a fun person to be around.”

Her Fathers’ Day Plans: “I would probably go out to the mountains and spend the day fishing at a lake. It does not have to be a big lake.”

Keanna, age 9

On Her Dad: “He is a good person.”

Her Fathers’ Day Plans: “I would go to Fort Fun. And play golf.”

Angelica, age 6 ½

On Her Dad: “He takes us fishing and takes us fun places and mom doesn’t have to pay.”

Her Fathers’ Day Plans: “We would go fishing, camping, or hunting.”

Megan, age 12

On Her Dad: “He is very active. He is very nice, easy going, and understands a lot. And if what I want to do is for a good reason, he will let me do it.”

Her Fathers’ Day Plans: “Go to a Bronco’s football game. Afterwards we would have dinner at Old Chicago. We would then go to the Denver Rescue Mission [a homeless shelter], volunteer, and help serve dinner. Afterwards, we go to see the movie Avatar.”

Lauren, age 10

On Her Dad and Plans for Fathers’ Day: “Ride my bike and swim.”

Heidi Olinger is the founder, president & CEO of Pretty Brainy, Inc. She has been a journalist, marketing director, executive director, foster parent, and aunt. “Being pretty brainy,” she writes, “is about believing in your capabilities and locating the self-confidence to act on your ambitions.”