Dad: You Matter More Than You Might Know

As Father’s Day approaches, family therapist and parenting advocate Sam Leal offers practical, hope-filled ideas for dads and husbands—backed by plenty of grace for the messy, real moments.

Key points:

Father’s Day is often filled with socks, mugs, and hand-drawn cards—but beyond the gifts, it’s a chance to pause and remember just how much dads matter.

Being a father or a husband isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up, loving well, and taking small steps forward—even when life feels overwhelming.

Family therapist and dad of two, Sam Leal, has spent more than two decades encouraging men to embrace their role in families and communities. His message is simple but powerful: you don’t need to have it all together—just keep going, keep growing, and keep loving.

Caring for yourself is caring for your family

So many men feel the weight of needing to be the provider, the strong one, the steady shoulder. But as Sam says, “If your bottle is empty, you cannot pour out to other people.” Looking after your health, your sleep, your friendships, and your spiritual life isn’t selfish—it’s essential. When dads are strong and supported, families thrive.

Looking after your health, your sleep, your friendships, and your spiritual life isn’t selfish—it’s essential.

Connection matters more than perfection

Children don’t need endless gifts or perfectly planned holidays. What they crave is time. Even ten minutes of one-on-one attention can make them feel secure and loved. Whether it’s a quick wrestle on the lounge room floor, a walk around the block, or a special “dad date,” those little moments of presence become the memories kids carry into adulthood.

Small steps make a big difference

Sam often shares the “1% rule”: just aim to get a little better each day. You don’t have to overhaul everything at once. Read that extra bedtime story, take a break before you lose your temper, or set aside time to talk to a mate. These small choices add up to big changes over time.

Sam reminds fathers of Winston Churchill’s words: “If you are going through hell, keep going.”

Don’t be afraid to apologise

For many dads, there’s pressure to always get it right. But children learn resilience and emotional strength not from having perfect parents, but from seeing parents own their mistakes. Saying, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have yelled,” teaches kids the power of humility and repair in relationships.

True strength means being open

Sam talks about breaking out of the “man box”—the old expectations that men should never show weakness. Real strength includes being honest, vulnerable, and willing to reach out for support. Men’s groups, friendships, and safe spaces can be life-giving, especially for those who’ve carried heavy burdens alone.

Father’s Day isn’t about pressure to be the perfect dad. It’s about real dads, doing their best, one day at a time.

Keep going

There’s no such thing as an easy road through fatherhood. But persistence pays off. As Sam reminds fathers with Winston Churchill’s words: “If you are going through hell, keep going.” Keep showing up, keep learning, and keep loving—because your presence makes more of a difference than you may ever know.

This Father’s Day

Dads, you don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to be present, kind to yourself, and willing to keep growing. And if you didn’t have a role model to look up to, take heart—you can build the kind of father you want to be.

Because in the end, Father’s Day isn’t about pressure to be the perfect dad. It’s about real dads, doing their best, one day at a time.

Article compiled with thanks to interviews by Salt 106.5’s Jordy.

Feature image: CanvaPro