Children's Books and Family History: My Dad (Memory Prompt Monday)

Imagine being twelve years old and attending your first evening party with friends. You have a great time, but now it is time to go home. While everyone else is climbing into their parents' cars, your dad is waiting outside on his Royal Mail postman bike.

Yep. I got to ride home in the front basket normally used to carry his mailbag.

Secretly, I loved riding on Dad's post office bike. The basket stayed perfectly still when he turned, which I thought was the coolest thing ever.

My dad worked for twenty years with the Royal Mail in England. He would leave the house at half past four in the morning to collect the post and begin his route. After a few rounds, he would come home to walk us to school before heading back to finish the day. Three evenings a week, he worked overtime. Ironically, those were also the nights my Nan came over for dinner.

As a child, I didn't fully understand how demanding and physical his job was. It wasn't until I was older that I realized just how hard he worked to support our family.

When I think of my dad, I remember the bike rides, but I also remember his dedication, sacrifice, and willingness to provide for those he loved.

He was the person who picked me up from parties, tickled my back when I asked, listened to my endless stories, and let me test out my latest jokes. He showed up day after day in the ordinary ways that matter most.

That is one of the reasons I love the children's book My Dad by Susan Quinn.

The father in the story is not famous, wealthy, or larger than life. He is not an astronaut, a movie star, or a superhero.

He is simply a dad.

Through gentle illustrations and simple text, the book celebrates the everyday moments shared between a father and child. It reminds us that some of the people who have the greatest impact on our lives are the ones who quietly show up for us every day—the ones who listen, encourage, help, and love us through the ordinary moments of life.

As children, we often take those moments for granted. It is only later, as we grow older, that we begin to recognize just how much those small acts of love shaped us. A ride home from a party. A bedtime routine. A family joke. A conversation around the dinner table.

Those moments may seem ordinary at the time, but they often become the memories we cherish most.

My Dad is a beautiful reminder that the greatest influence in a child's life does not come from being extraordinary. It comes from being present.

Now, one of my favorite things is watching my children love my dad and seeing how much he loves them in return. His influence didn't end with my childhood. It continues as he shows up for another generation in the same ordinary ways that matter most.

Now it's your turn: What is a memory of your dad that you never want to forget?

ACTIVITY: MY DAD

Think of one memory with your dad that you never want to forget.

Write about what happened, where you were, and why the memory is special to you. If possible, include a photograph or draw a picture of the memory.

Consider these questions:

• How old were you?
• What happened?
• Why does this memory stand out?
• What does this memory teach you about your dad?
• What do you hope future generations know about him?

After you finish, save your memory in a journal, family scrapbook, or upload it to FamilySearch Memories so it can be preserved for future generations.

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