Parental Arts
Lessons From My Father
In celebration of Father's Day, Maisonette team members share the most important lessons they learned from their own dads.
Jesse Drucker
“My dad taught me to always take an interest in others and to remember the little things. We call him the “Birthday King,” because he never forgets a birthday. If you tell him one time about your friend’s roommate’s Great Aunt Tracy’s birthday on June 12th, he will be the first one to text you a reminder on the 12th to wish Aunt Tracy a happy birthday. It seems like a small thing, but it makes you feel so special.”
Oriana Castro-Ramirez
"Mi padre is a self-made austere Colombian brother to 17 people, with the intellectual dynamism of Garry Kasparov and the curiosity of a child. Early in life, he decided that his life goal was to travel worldwide and disregard material indulgence. I joined him when I was a tiny baby. So far, I've traveled to 23 countries, know six languages, and have lived in three nations where I have chosen loving families, too. All thanks to his belief that travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, narrow-mindedness, and is the best school in life. The most outstanding philosophy that he supplied me with is: When hate feels too influential, and you need to love your fellow humans, be an immersive traveler, not a tourist."
Hanna Condon
"The biggest lesson I learned from my dad was to do at least one nice thing a day for someone else. Growing up, I’d walk through the door and hear: “What’d you do for someone else today?” I often find him incorporating these small gestures into his day to day, like paying for the toll behind him on the highway, helping a neighbor carry their groceries in, or coaching my 5th grade soccer team just because I asked (even when he knew nothing about soccer!)"
Khurram Muhammad
"One of my father's biggest lessons was "even if the world looks at you as an underdog, you're not one." He taught me to keep my head held high always and don't let the world keep you down. Show the world the great person that you are and do it with a cheesy smile on your face."
Kala Fogg
"Growing up my father was our biggest fan. There wasn’t a haircut, shirt, or profession he disapproved of as long as it was true to who we were. He continues to be a man of many, many words so he has taught me plenty of lessons over the years. One lesson that replays in my head in almost any situation I’m in is that I better “enter the space with my faith, my truth, and a cup of coffee.” His advice hasn’t failed me yet, so I’m certain it will continue to stick with me."
Liliana Palau
"My father taught me to love cinema. Every weekend he would select a movie from his perfectly organized VHS collection to watch together. I had gone through the entire Hitchcock filmography before I was 12. He taught me how important it is to follow your passion, to love what you do and to be economically independent. And that love is shown in actions, not words."
Tazz Uppin
"My dad is an enigmatic mix of modern and traditional. Growing up I saw the struggles in him to conform and raise his daughters as Indian society dictated. Even with the pressure he faced, he always taught my sister and I that we are capable of achieving anything we wanted and that our gender should not and does not matter. He taught us to be strong, independent women and that with hard work, we'd be able to make something of ourselves without having to rely on a husband or a partner. He gave us a foundation of strength, determination and perseverance that has molded the way I live my life today.
Alissa Amato
"My dad taught me a little bit of everything, but mostly to be fearless. From learning to ride a bike, tie my shoes, and throw a baseball, to later learning to drive a car and do my taxes, nothing was ever deemed too dangerous or unnecessary for me to learn as a girl. I was pushed down ski mountains as soon as I could string a sentence together and seated on roller coasters so high you could barely see the top, but all of that taught me that nothing is ever as scary or hard as it seems. It taught me that you never really know how something will be until you try, and chances are you’ll end up an adult who happily rides down the tallest roller coasters and steepest ski slopes."
Jessica Kilwinski
"Aside from the obvious note to always carry cash and buckle up, my dad taught me the importance of family. When my mom was sick in 2019 he was by her side & ours’ the entire time. The devotion and love was unparalleled and something I hope to emulate. We learned to appreciate all of the little moments and to take pause and enjoy every moment with family and friends. He is always there for us when we need him and has always been my number one fan. I’m so grateful for the love shared in my family, and as I recently got married, my husband and I wanted to honor that love by combining our two last names."
