Leave it to our young readers to help define the essence of fatherhood — something that has less to do with actual paternity and more to do with patience, love, time and sacrifice.
As 10-year-old Brittney Norman of Williamsburg wrote in an open letter to her dad, heroism is what happens on a rainy day: “When we left the restaurant it was raining. You had nice clothes and you only had one umbrella. You gave it to me.”
We heard from readers from Connecticut to California — a stunning majority of them from Brooklyn: Where father figures are concerned, Kings County rules!
Let the following letters here inspire you to thank the important men in your life on Sunday, Father’s Day and every day.
A prince of a role model
Dear Uncle Prince,
If I had a dollar for every time you cared for me and taught me how to treat women, I would be rich . . . I will always appreciate what you have done and how you handle being my role model. If I have kids, I want you to explain life lessons to them just as you did for me. No one could do it better, teaching me how to be a man.
— Elijah Dumont, 10, Brooklyn
13 lucky years
— Alison Wasserman, 16, Manhattan
Love’s thicker than blood
My stepdad! He might not be my real dad, but he’s perfect. His name is Carlos — the C is for Caring, the A for Artist, R is Reliable, L is Loving, O means outgoing, S means Serious. He’s done so much for my family. Last year, when I was in 6th grade, we were in a homeless shelter. He was with us through all of it. He gave me two wonderful sisters and I love them very much. He is the best!
— Arianna Basdeo, 12, Brooklyn
Like dad, like daughter
Since the day I was born, my father has been there every step of my life. He tells me to be better than him and to strive to be my greatest. Without my dad, I wouldn’t be the self-respecting, well-mannered, hard-working and athletic person I’m made out to be. Everyone says I resemble my father and I’m very proud to say I do look a lot like him. He is the king of our “palace,” and I’m the princess.
—Jacklyn Cuomo, 12, Staten Island
The toast of Vermont
My Pappa is not only patient and adventurous — he drives us cross country anywhere from five to six-and-a-half weeks at a time — but I also admire him because he moved back to the town in which he grew up and became a police officer at age 42.
He is not only my mentor, but my ski coach, my tennis coach and my biggest fan. He helps me when I feel frustrated and makes me laugh when it counts the most. And he makes the best butter toast!
— Cristo Buckley, 8, Bellows Falls, Vt.
‘A heart of love’
— Jesse Gross, 7, Brooklyn
Two sports fans, one Post
— Jordan Klatsky, 6, Baltimore, Md.
A little yelling, many cookies
My dad is a loving dad. He yells when I don’t listen to him [but] he doesn’t yell very loud. My dad is a big Yankees fan and he loves to play baseball with me. My dad stands up for me if I fall or do anything wrong. At dinner time he’s not strict. For dessert he lets me eat cookies and cake and cupcakes and all that stuff.
— Jared Birman, 8, Mamaroneck, NY
The L-word
My father stays by me through thick and thin, through hate and love, through pain and joy. In this story, it’s through pain. Four months ago, I was in the hospital. My pancreas was inflating and if it didn’t stop, they would have to take it out. I couldn’t eat and was on an IV. I had a lot of visitors during my time there, but the one who came every day was my father. He tried to feed me but the doctor told him I couldn’t eat. One day he tried to put my hair up and failed horribly — the nurse did it for me.
Normally, when I say “I love you” to my dad, he says only, “Me too.” He finds [love] a strong word that’s hard for him to say. But on my second to last day in the hospital, I said “I love you” and he said it back. It was the first time he ever said the L-word to me.
My father is the best father I could ever ask for.
— Angelica Lopez, 12, Brooklyn
A mani-pedi for grandpa
My grandfather is amazing in every way (except his hearing). I get my love of basketball and Boston sports teams from him, even though I live in NYC. He has always done the things that my sister and I want to do, even if he really doesn’t want to do them. Like, when I was little, he would play dolls and dress-up with me and, when I was a little older, he let me give him mani-pedis. One time I gave him a complete makeover and painted his nails bright red.
He reads to us every time he comes to visit or when we visit him. The only complaining he ever does is, “OK, just let me take a five-minute nap on the couch.”
— Lily Wilensky Hohn, 10, Manhattan
My best friend
My dad reminds me every day that I’m his best friend. And every day I remind him that I am better looking. I am lucky to have a daddy like mine because when I want ice cream for dinner, I use the best friend card.
—Jaxson Young, 5 ¹/₂, Great Meadows, NJ
No. 1 father of 3
My dad is the greatest of them all
(Trying) to help me with my homework
Helping to coach me with softball . . .
He may not be a superhero
But in my eyes he is
Cause I’m his little girl, the very first one of his
I have a little sister, a little brother, too
But I think he’s the biggest kid
Everyone knows it’s true
Father of 3, husband to 1
Happy Father’s Day
To the man who’s the most fun!!!
— Ava Goldman, 13, Manhattan
Leading by example
My dad is great because he tells me to do things that make me a better person. He leads by example. He helps out a World War II veteran by taking him shopping and to doctor appointments and sometimes lets me come along. He always sets goals for me and encourages me to try new things. Right now I am training for a duathalon with his help. He also got me a bow and arrow last year as a reward for being able to finally master the monkey bars, and he takes me to the archery range. My favorite time with him is when we go fishing. My dad is the best dad in the world!
— Alexandra Martin, 7, Darien, Conn.
Always up for Legos
My papa is kind and nice and also very good to play with. He likes to build Legos with my brother and I. He is friendly, fun, exciting and really the best. My papa is awesome and super!
— Henry Hedaya, 6, Millburn, NJ
Go, Rangers!
My dad’s name is Mike. He loves me and my brother Max. He is a gym teacher and works in Brooklyn. He plays hockey and scores a goal for me. He loves the Rangers and screams so loud when they lose!
— Madison Adelstein, 8, Long Island
All tucked in
My dad is great. He runs with me. He plays tennis with me. He takes care of me when I’m sick and tucks me in every night.
— Jacob Freilich, 6, Long Island
He makes us laugh!
My dad is perfect! First of all, he is hilarious! He always makes me, my brother and my friends laugh until we cry. When he has special alone time with me, he takes me out to breakfast and we hang out like best friends. I also love when he chases me and plays monster with me. He helps with my homework when I can’t do it by myself. He is so patient. . . . He is the best daddy in the whole entire world!
— Sophia Tarasenko, 7, Brookville, NY
One man’s long sacrifice
My dad, Fabian Encalada, has been working at the same Manhattan restaurant for 21 years. He started as a busboy, then a dishwasher. Through hectic 12-hour workdays, he’s sacrificed his body in ways that are now catching up to him. More than that, he sacrificed time with his family. He missed out on all the parent-teacher nights, award ceremonies and other seemingly meaningless but memorable events that make up a kid’s life.
He’s worked tirelessly so that I can have more opportunities and more chances at a better life than he has had, and for that I am beyond grateful. I may never be able to pay back the thousands of dollars he spent on my college education, but getting my bachelor’s degree has brought me one step closer. I could only hope that he is as proud of me as I am of him.
— Debbie Encalada, 21, West New York, NJ