Free Fridays: A letter to my dad.
26 December 2025
It’s been so nice seeing people spend time with loved ones this festive season. I too have been doing the same. In fact, it was my dad’s birthday recently and I’ve been spending a lot of quality time with him.
Growing up, he would never allow us to buy birthday cards – we had to make them instead. So year after year, my sister and I would do it. We’d print photos, write in different coloured markers, the creativity grew as the years went by.
Then something happened.
We produced children. We gave him eight grandkids, combined.
So now, we make these eight mini humans do the cards instead. We retired from making these creative scrapbooks (they take so long and so much effort omggg) and we gladly passed on the baton to our kids. It’s tradition now for them to make these cards together.
While my sister and I sit on the couch and nap. 😂
Hey, it’s their time to shine, not ours.
So it’s been a while since we had made him a card ourselves. But this year hit different for me. It was a difficult year for me, as you know, that it brought me so much closer to my family. My parents were my rock fighting together with me through all the ordeals and I know that I am still standing strong because my parents don’t stop making doa for me everyday. Difficult times make families grow stronger, and no matter how far your kids go in life, they’ll always need their parents at the end of the day. That was very true in my case.
My dad (and mom) was always there for me, giving valuable advice and constantly quoting the Quran to help strengthen me when I weakened. They stayed up worrying for me, they sat on the prayer mat longer to plead for my protection, they helped me every step of the way – mentally, spiritually and physically. And this year, more than ever, I feel so much gratitude for my parents.
So I thought for his birthday, I’ll write him a letter.
A meaningful one. No fluff, no stickers, no drawings. Just humble words, sincerely from my heart.
I sat at a coffee shop to write it. And even at “Dear Dad,” I was already crying. Tears just fell as I wrote the letter to my dad, reminiscing all that he’s done for me since the day I was born till now. A father’s job never really ends, huh? How blessed I am that my dad is still around, that I’m able to run to him, cry to him, seek comfort in his arms, when life slaps me in the face. To feel my dad’s unconditional love is not to be taken for granted, what a blessing from Allah swt.
The waiter looked at me, concerned. I quickly wiped my tears, looked down and kept on writing. He gave me tissue when the snot started coming – tears through my nose. #attractivelevel300
When the letter was done, my eyes were swollen, my nose was red. I folded the letter and put it in an envelope. I didn’t let anyone else touch it. I made sure to keep it crisp and away from my wet tears. I wanted to give it to him, all fresh and pristine.
At his birthday dinner, I gave it to him and told him to read it when he was alone. He thanked me and gave me a kiss on the head. That night before I slept, I imagined my dad reading my letter that very second, and he would feel so touched and hopefully so loved. Knowing that he means so much to me, and that I love him so very much. And I imagined him getting emotional, maybe even shed a gentle tear or two.
The next day, I visited them.
My dad was in the kitchen watching TV.
“Hi, dad!” I greeted him cheerfully. He greeted me back.
Hmmm… no word about my letter?
I would’ve thought he would have something to say. Maybe he was just so emotional about it, he didn’t want to talk about it?
I decided to ask anyway, shamelessly.
“Did you read my letter?”
“Oh, yes,” he replied.
Uh… ok.
And??
“Did you like it?” I asked, face getting red.
“Yeah, nice,” he replied, eyes on the TV still.
What?!
NICE?!!!
The entire café cried with me (they didn’t). If the paper could cry, even the paper would cry. It was such a sweet letter! Many tissues were sacrificed for this letter. My whole sinus was like what’s going on out there.
And all I get was a NICE?!
Was NICE short for “It was the best letter I’ve ever read, my darling. I think you’re such a sweet daughter and I am so blessed too to have you in my life. I love you, daughter. You’re my favourite daughter”???
NICE?!
K bye.
Dads. 😤
P/S: I still love him.
Before you go…
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Before you really go…
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See you there! :)
Dads are macho
dads are macho