2018 Jun 17
Very seldom do we thank our fathers for their care, protection, sacrifices, timeless advice and jokes, so in lieu of Fathers’ Day 2020, we have come up with a list of the types of fathers in Sri Lanka and the quirks they possess.
- The Over-Bearing Dad
This father is protective to the nth degree. He refuses to accept how quickly his child is growing up and is very judgmental of your new friends and in the process intimidates them. He is not one to fall for the “just going out for dinner” statement because he “knows” it means dinner and drinks. Curfews, punishments, lectures and rules are a way of life with this dad but we are forever thankful for dads like this for spotting obstacles that may befall their children from a mile away. They embrace fatherhood with structure and principles, encouraging us too to have some organisation in our lives.
2. The Trendy Dad
This father is obsessed with the latest tech and gadgets. He is updated, tech-savvy and possibly becomes aware of the newest trends before the child does. He is not like the majority and believes adults should mingle with the “youngsters”. It is super easy to have a conversation with him about the latest iOS update and such because he too is fascinated about the fancy developments. He understands that times have changed and that we as a society must grow along with our ever-changing culture. This father is an absolute blessing to millennials.
3. The “Ape Kaale” Dad
Full of nostalgia and stories from back in the day, the “Ape Kaale” dad is the opposite of the Trendy dad because he refuses to accustom to youth culture. Most of his advice starts with “Ape kaale owa thibune na” and while most of us are tired of hearing this, this dad has the best stories from the good old days and exposes us to a culture that has ceased to exist today. It is because of fathers like this that we have knowledge about how much rice and sugar used to cost and of course the outdoor games they used to play like “batta”. If you haven’t heard about your dad’s (long exaggerated) journey to school – are you even Sri Lankan?
3. The Goofy Dad
The father who has us rolling our eyes all day long. This dad makes the driest jokes we’ve ever heard! He doesn’t fail to make your friends politely laugh with his limericks, bits and performances because he has perfected them during multiple Lankan social gatherings and family get-togethers. He will also laugh at his own joke without a doubt. Nevertheless, children lucky enough to call these dads their fathers are forever grateful for their constant efforts at trying to make everyone around them smile.
4. The Easy-Going Dad
He’s the person you go to when Amma does not give you permission to go out, a.k.a Daddy Cool. There are no boundaries with this father because you can talk to him about whatever, whenever. He is super chill and isn’t big on curfews but is definitely big on safety! He is prepared to pick you up whenever you’re ready because he realizes that it is now your time to have fun while embracing your youth. He has his principles yet believes that there should be some form of mutual consensus so that the child can open up about anything.
5. The Proud Dad
This is that dad who gushes with pride every time his child accomplishes something and is sure to tell his colleagues or anyone he meets at a social gathering about the accomplishment with a beaming smile while, without a doubt, patting the child’s head. One can easily spot this happening in a crowd, owing to the child’s look of absolute embarrassment. However, while such occasions can be super mortifying, we all know that this dad is just embracing fatherhood in its heartwarming form and is just incredibly proud of the child he raised.
6. The Musical Dad
This dad is either a great singer or cannot sing and pretends he can. He definitely owns an instrument, but whether he can play it or not is still up for debate. He is super jovial and is always dancing along to the music. He LOVES having guests over for a good “session” and if by any chance he finds out that one such guest can play said instrument, he runs to get the instrument and urges the guest to play a good hit. If you hear “one more, one more”, we can assure you that it’s this dad. He is super fun to be around and it is inevitable that his child will grow up loving music, just as much as him.
7. The Sentimental Dad
This is for the dads who just cannot seem to let go of their school memories. Often you may see them go through their 40-year-old memorabilia, call a couple of friends to do so, and rehash old memories from their boxes full of trophies, photos, and school souvenirs. There is a 95% chance that this dad was a prominent player of some sport in school. He loves to reminisce about the good old days and when this type of dad talks with his child about school, he gets super sentimental and hopes that his child’s school life is just as good as his was, if not more.
Which category does your dad fit into? Let us know in the comments section below! Now go give your fathers a big hug because no matter what mannerisms they possess, they mean well at the end of the day.
Happy Fathers’ Day to all the Lankan Thaththas out there!
