June 23rd is approaching...

Let's consider together how each of us celebrates this holiday.

Are you a child and go to your dad with best wishes? Are you slowly taking over his responsibilities? Do you make sure he doesn't forget about the doctor, the spa, or a visit to the therapist? Do you feel that what was given to you as a child is now paying off in a warm, caring relationship?

Or perhaps you are a dad striving to be better than what you experienced in your family? Are you breaking patterns, being present, sober, and understanding? On this day, allow yourself to be especially happy with how you raise your children and with the good relationship you strive to maintain. Being a father in a time when there's talk of a crisis of masculinity is an exceptionally difficult task. How do you combine modern models of partnership in a relationship with the traditional approach that the father is the "head of the family"? Do you feel the burden of responsibility that comes with it? How much do you worry about whether you'll be up to this role, whether you can shoulder the care of the entire household and children?

Perhaps it's worth making a manly decision on this day and sharing your worries with the person closest to you – your wife, partner, the mother of your children. When we share problems, they usually become lighter because the burden is shared between two people, not just one. Realize that admitting weaknesses, hesitancy, and anxiety can be a good basis for a shared conversation about solutions, ideas, and plans for your life together. You don't have to constantly pretend to be invincible and hide every failure. You can be a role model for your children and show them that everyone can have weak moments, that it's not shameful, but a space to ask for help and experience the warmth of family. Remember that from the very beginning, you can show them how to cope with difficult situations, how to surround others and yourself with care and concern, how to courageously face new situations that they encounter. Give yourself a day where you feel how blessed you are to be a father. Maybe you have older children who will invite you to dinner, or at least call with best wishes from the other side of the world. Or maybe little ones who will give you a card they made at preschool. Appreciate it, notice it; you are a guiding light for them. Allow that warm place in your heart to shine, where love, sensitivity, and gentleness reside, all of which have found their home since the moment you first held your child in your arms.

Or maybe your family no longer lives together, that your relationship with your children is difficult, and you see each other rarely and briefly. Think about what you would like your children to be able to derive from this relationship despite everything? Maybe you'll feel that there's more joy in giving than receiving? Perhaps freedom of choice will be the first step towards building a good and mature relationship with your children, based on voluntariness and respect.

If you're "father of the year"—that's wonderful! Celebrate! If you feel like there are some bumps and turns in this fatherhood journey, consider the route you want to take so that you can ultimately be satisfied with yourself and spend constructive time with your children.

We wish you the courage to admit that you have a vulnerable side. We wish you the joy of realizing a grand life plan, consisting of buying diapers, taking out the trash, and driving to school. We wish you the satisfaction of shared endeavors with your children. We wish you the sense of fulfillment of seeing them leave home and start their own families.

All the best, Dad!