They say that a father is a daughter’s first love, and I believe that to be true. I am so lucky to have the best dad in the world, and I really truly mean it.
Growing up, my dad would watch Saturday morning cartoons with my sister and I, he took us to our swimming lessons, dressed up for Halloween with us, helped us whenever we needed, he would treat us to coffee and breakfast dates, and he still buys us Valentine’s Day presents because we are also the loves of his life. He made us feel really special and loved, and still does.
My dad told me something very important when I was a little girl, it’s something every child should be told. My dad would always tell me, “Claudia, you have a voice to speak.” He taught me that it’s important to speak up for myself, and for others, and to let people know how I am feeling. It is important to speak up if something isn’t right, if I am uncomfortable, or to let someone know when I am angry and to not keep my emotions bottled up. So, I never hold back and I always speak my mind, even when he doesn’t want to hear it, and I remind him that he is the one who told me I have a voice to speak with… I am lucky that my mom is a strong woman and she has taught me well, but my dad also had plenty of influence in helping me become the woman I am today.
My dad is the type of person I can always count on, no matter what. He’ll give the shirt off his back to help anyone in need and is always willing to lend a helping hand. He set a really good example for my sister and I. He loves to joke around and have a good time and keep things light, but he can also be really serious. His family is the most important thing in his life and he never fails to express it. I am so incredibly lucky to call him my dad.
We usually spend Father’s Day treating my dad to a meal and spending the day with him, but this year was a little different. Homemade pasta was requested for lunch, along with a Duncan Hines cake with icing for dessert. So, my sister and I made homemade gnocchi and lasagna, but we kind of cheated with the lasagna and used the boxed kind, but our grandmother also makes it that way so it was passable offence.
The lasagna was a little dry, we forgot to decrease the temperature during the last thirty minutes of baking after uncovering the dish, but, it was still tasty and he enjoyed it. The gnocchi were a hit and we will definitely make those again; it’s super easy and simple. We had some salad after our pasta and then some fruit before our dessert.
My dad bought the cake mix and icing a few weeks ago and demanded that this be the Father’s Day dessert. He really loves is chocolate cake and shame on us if we would deny the man of his cake. We made the Swiss Chocolate Duncan Hines Cake with Creamy French Chocolate icing. We were so stuffed from lunch that we regretted having dessert. I couldn’t even finish my piece.
We had a really lovely time and I hope we made my dad feel extra special and incredibly loved.