Understand the value of your father
After your mother, the next important person in your life is your Father. Unlike your mother, father typically does not exhibit his love openly. He comes across as a strict person who is always disciplining you. But as you grow older, you will realize that father is like a coconut. Very hard on the outside, but just the opposite on the inside.
A typical person's perception of his/her father goes through a sine curve. Let me explain with a timeline:
0 to 12 years – Father is a hero in everyone's life. Everything Father does wows a child. Ex: Taking a child out to park, teaching how to play a game, doing physically challenging tasks like lifting heavy objects and many more. When a child sees his/her father do these tasks, they will feel great about their father.
13 to 25 years – Father starts looking like a person from older generation. The child challenges most of what the father says. Father no longer looks like a hero. Child starts thinking "My father should have done this". He does not appear smart or physically strong anymore.
25 to death – Once a person becomes a father/mother themselves, thats when he/she starts realizing how difficult it is to be a parent. The number of sacrifices needed to be made for taking care of your own children will make you appreciate everything your father has done. Your father again starts appearing like a hero
The bottom-line is – Your father only wishes good for you. Whatever he says or does is with your interest in mind. Many times this is not obvious, but you will realize it later in your life.
Hence, please respect your father, take care of him in his older age. Never let your father feel deprived/dependent financially. Support your father with love and not as an obligation. Just like mother, many people realize the important of father after he is no more. That is too late. So, make the maximum out of the limited time you have with your father.
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You may be wondering - "Where is the section on spouse?". I have intentionally left out writing about importance of spouse since one of the lesson I learnt is "never get in between a husband-and-wife"! All I can say is the obvious - Life partner is someone who might remain with you till end of your life. Mutual respect for each other and understanding between life partners are critical for long-term happiness.