Last Sunday was Fathers’ Day and I just want to take a moment to commend all the Dads who step up to raise their children.

Special thanks to those who work extra hard to provide for their kids. Growing up, I always wished my dad was rich. Who doesn’t, right? I wanted him to pick me up from school in the coolest car.

I wanted us to have a nice house, clothes and all the other material things rich families are blessed with but while we struggled, I must say he was a good father who didn’t drink away the little he had.

I also have friends whose Dads were too strict and I’m grateful that while mine did discipline us from time to time, he wasn’t abusive or controlling and he pretty much let us choose our own career paths and forge our futures. I’m glad he wasn’t one of those fathers who valued boys more than girls.

You know how some in our society fault parents for having daughters as opposed to sons? Well my Dad made a point of collectively referring to us as his children and if deep down he was gender biased, he didn’t show it.

I’m glad he didn’t marry me off to some old man for a few goats! I honestly don’t have any terrible childhood memories of my Dad and in a world where some children aren’t even on speaking terms with theirs, I’m grateful for the cordial relationship with mine. 

That said, here’re some things my Dad taught me.

Life hacks: My Dad always had tools around the house and he would fix anything from broken bulbs to unhinged windows. Thanks to him, I can tell a screwdriver from a spanner and you may not appreciate that until you have to unscrew something.

I’m not quite as handy as him and I still can’t change a tire by myself but I’m better than my friends who will call a mechanic the second their car doesn’t start or the TV doesn’t turn on!  

Patience: I can’t really tout it as a virtue of mine yet but I’m getting there. My dad always stressed that while it is good to dream, the reality is that you will not always get what you want when you want it. In a way, he saved my soul.

He’s not perfect by any means but he always told us there’re many things he could’ve done to make a quick buck but he didn’t and advised us to always try to do the right thing.

Vegans and animal activists might come for me on this one but I definitely take after my dad when it comes to my love for red meat. Beef in particular. I’m yet to find better-tasting Muchomo than what my Dad makes and sadly, I don’t barbecue quite as well but I’m working on it. Speaking of food, my Dad also gave us some health tips.

Things like "drink your water and resist the urge to add salt to already cooked food,” which I must say are helpful.

So, what did you learn from your Dad?