Not long ago I posted a list of things Appalachian mothers and daughters should do together in response to a similar on-line list that I thought was a bit silly (spa trip, yoga, and a trip to NYC). Since then, I’ve been thinking I need to write the same kind of list for father’s and daughters. So here goes:

1. Learn to drive a tractor. Ideally, the daughter should be about six or seven and sitting on her daddy’s lap. Not safe, you say? I always felt safest with my daddy’s arms around me.
2. Milk a cow. Dad would do that thing where he lined us up against the barn wall and tried to shoot milk into our mouths. Moms do NOT like that.
3. Read books together. Dad says I learned to read because he would fall asleep before finishing the story and I wanted to know how it ended.
4. And speaking of sleeping . . . take naps. Dad’s are fantastic nap takers. Each winter my dad’s favorite spot was flat in the living room floor in front of the fireplace.
5. Learn to hammer a nail. I never was very good at it, but it was fun to try!
6. Churn ice cream. The great thing about doing this with your dad is that he’ll handle most of the cranking. That leaves daughters to sit on the churn to hold it still, to catch the salty water as it runs out of the spout, and to lick the dasher.
7. Learn to shoot a gun. I’ve never hunted, but I’ve taken out some walnuts and shown several targets what for. I’m not a huge fan of shooting (too noisy), but I’m glad Dad taught me to safely handle–and more importantly respect–guns.
8. Roast hot dogs over an open fire. Or bake potatoes in the embers. Or make s’mores. Just be outside around open flames and food.
9. Go fishing. Start by digging the worms, then bait your own hooks, and the daughter should take at least one fish off the hook (after that let Dad take over). Dad’s are also good at frying the catch (do NOT bake or broil–grease should be involved).
10. Go on dates. Tomorrow is my birthday and I love the sweet memories Dad supplied by taking me out on a “date” each year for my birthday. We’d get dressed up and go to a “fancy” restaurant where he’d treat me like a real lady. Actually, this one isn’t even Appalachian–it’s just what daddies and daughters ought to do.