Why Dad Put Up The Flag

For many, this time of year is full of memories with their father. Playing catch in the yard, spending time with him on vacation, or watching him cook on the barbeque. Many people also have memories of their father showing their patriotism – hanging the American flag on holidays,  teaching the proper way to fold the flag, or telling stories about their family history and experiences fighting for and supporting freedom. 

According to the Pew Research Center, roughly 48% of fathers feel like they aren’t doing enough. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the daily routine and miss simple opportunities for meaningful connection with your kids. However, you’re probably doing much more than you think you are.

One of the most important things you can do is teach your children about your values and how you implement them into your daily life. With both Father’s Day and Flag Day happening this week, you might include your feelings about supporting the common good, justice, liberty, equality, diversity, pursuit of happiness, truth, and patriotism. Many of these values can be taught through our Declaration of Independence. It seems that as each generation is more removed from the events and ideals that formed this nation, they tend to forget and devalue their importance.  This makes it even more important to reintroduce these values to the next generation. If you’re teaching your children to embody these values, you can rest assured that they will grow up to be incredible adults.