What is the first image and thought evoked from the word Father?

First word and image – my father dead, in the coffin. In terms of fatherhood itself, becoming a father doesn’t a father make – fatherhood or I’d rather use the term parenthood is a lifelong journey.

“Luke” (“I’m your father”).

I’m not kidding. No image. It sucks that I have a shitty relationship with my own Dad. Sometimes, it feels as though he isn’t there.

@jmah I didn’t have much of a relationship with mine, either. With him gone, things aren’t that different

I happen to be a single Father of two… whom I have a majority of the time. I also seem to have an inordinate number of their friends staying with us for days on end (and sometimes weeks). I completely appreciate the fulfillment that being a Father brings… but it can also be very challenging and restraining for my own personal life. I believe that first and foremost, my having abandonment issues from not having a Father growing up and additionally having been adopted, has probably perpetuated my over compensating for the lack of having one in my own life growing up. I have children who look to me as a Father that have their own Fathers… somewhere… out there. I can only say that I feel priveliged to be able to fill a void for them in whatever capacity as a father figure… and as needed and do what is necessary to provide the best role model I possibly can as a Dad. But I am far from perfect.

I get an image of my dad in a suit, which is weird because I can’t remember ever seeing him in a suit.

My dad succumbed to cancer in 2000 and I still miss him dearly to this day. The first image and thought evoked from Father is visions of him and precious memories I’ve always stored away about how special he was to our family.

A lumberjack. My dad resembles a lumberjack. All of my friends refer to him as the lumberjack. I think it’s because he wears flannel shirts and is all grizzled looking and he’s tall and quiet… you know, like a lumberjack? Lumberjack- that’s my final answer.

The first thing I feel is a wistful sadness; my father died when I was 11. Ever since it’s seemed a little unfair when other people have fathers, especially if they’re older than me, though I’m completely aware that it’s a totally insane thought to have. The image I think of is also my dad, in a ghostly sort of way (it was a long time ago, so the picture is getting faint).

I think it’s totally possible to have that kind of role reversal you’re talking about with your friend, especially when that kind of void opens in one’s life. I think I’ve had a few people who I’d call “father figures” in my life since my dad died. None really permanent though. I do have a stepdad but I was always too much at odds with him to get that fatherly feeling… Not to mention I wasn’t really open to the idea when my mom married him (I was 12) and now I’m too old to reform that bond, at least with him.

Beer, cigarettes, and rage.

dick

There are too many images that flash in my head with the word Father.
My dad was the best, and I still miss him 26 years after he passed.

I see the dad on Leave it to Beaver. My father is somewhat close to full blown crazy – and not crazy like oh he’s kinda odd crazy, I mean like wow he’s really scary crazy. So I’m happy I see the Leave it to Beaver guy.

I think of my dad in his work clothes. He works for the government and is a snappy dresser, and an ear piece, name tag, and shades usually complete the outfit. My dad is developing kind of a paunch lately, so when I form a mental image the first thing I think of is his stomach with a work shirt and a tie. I also think about dad stuff like beer, fishing, and barbecuing.

I never called my dad father, so I actually have to pause a moment. First thing that comes to mind is how he looks, then there is so many things about him, it is not like one comes first or is more important it is all at once. Things like he has a good sense of humor, smart, needy, annoying, and more…

@Holden_Caulfield I’m a single lady dad of two as well. Raised them pretty much alone since they were 4 and 6. They are now all grown up. Wouldn’t have wanted it any other way

Welcome to fluther, btw.

:-)

I’m standing on his feet hugging his waist and laughing or watching him rage at the nightly news “Anita Bryant is a lousy bitch” ” That son of a bitch (Nixon) wins this election we’re screwed.” hahah Fatherhood is very much a state of being and my dad wasn’t really much of a father, he wasn’t all that involved.

@Silhouette Your dad sounds quite enlightened.