Celebrating Fathers on Father's Day | Aisle29

Celebrate fatherhood in all forms this Fathers Day. Honouring father figures—dads, stepdads, mentors—for their love, guidance, and presence.

As I write this, Father's Day this year is almost upon us, and I wonder how many consider it to just being a quaint, out-dated celebration.  

I still remember the first time I called my granddad "Dad" by accident. I was about six, maybe seven years old, and I'd just fallen off my bike trying to show off down the street: Scraped knees, bruised ego, and tears that wouldn't stop. 

He came running, arms open, a mix of worry and laughter in his eyes. He scooped me up like I weighed nothing, and as I clung to him, I blurted it out. "Dad, it hurts".

He didn't flinch or correct me. He just said, "I know, love. I'm here."

That's when I realised that being a father figure isn't about titles or DNA. It's about showing up, being present, and offering the quiet strength that stays with you long after the bruises heal.

Father's Day often conjures images of biological fathers—dads in armchairs with "Best Dad" mugs, barbecues sizzling with sausages, and cards scrawled with crayon love. But for many of us, "Dad" goes far beyond genetics.

It can be a stepdad, a grandparent, an older brother, a mentor, or a family friend who filled those fatherly shoes when life handed us something different.

When I think about celebrating fathers on Father's Day, I think of my uncle too—always the first to offer practical advice, the one who taught me how to change a tyre and, more importantly, how to stand tall in the face of chaos. He wasn't my dad, but he might as well have been.

He never missed a school play, always showed up for birthdays, and was the one I called when things went pear-shaped. There's a quiet kind of love that doesn't need to be declared loudly but gets proven through years of consistent presence.

But not all fathers are present. Sometimes, it's necessary to celebrate fathers who have passed on or may not be involved in their children's lives, and often, the reasons are legion. 

Fathers may be away from home for meaningful work or in circumstances that make it impossible for them always to be present. Whatever the reason, absent fathers are worth a thought, too.

Some people find Father's Day hard. Maybe their dad is no longer around, or perhaps he never was in the first place.

Then there are those who had difficult relationships with their fathers and found fatherhood in unexpected places. For them, Father's Day can feel like a minefield of emotions—a mix of gratitude, sadness, longing, and sometimes even relief.

And that's okay. It's a day that means different things to different people.

I've learned to expand the meaning of Father's Day. I use it to honour all the men who have shaped my life in some way, big or small: the teacher who believed in me when I didn't believe in myself; the neighbour who taught me to fish and told me stories about the war, stories that made me see the world with wider eyes; the friend who listens without judgement and offers solid advice, just like a dad would.

There's this idea that fathers are providers, protectors and stoic figures in the background. But I think the best father figures are the ones who break that mould—who aren't afraid to show love, who laugh with you, cry with you, and teach you not just how to be strong but how to be kind.

One Father's Day, a few years back, I decided to write letters. Not just to my dad but to every man who had played a part in shaping who I am.

It felt strange at first—sentimental, maybe even a bit cheesy—but as I wrote, I realised how rarely we say these things out loud. How often do we assume people know they matter without ever telling them?

The responses I got? Unforgettable. One friend told me it was the first time his daughter thanked him for being there.

Another said it made him feel seen in a way he hadn't before.

There's power in acknowledgement. There's power in saying, "You mattered to me. You still do."

So when I talk about celebrating fathers with Father's Day, I mean celebrating all those moments that make up a father figure's presence: the late-night chats, the rides to football practice, the life lessons disguised as bad jokes, the way they instinctively reach out to steady you when life throws you off balance.

Sometimes, it's about being that father figure for someone else. I've found myself slipping into that role more than once—offering guidance and being the steady voice when someone needed it.

It's a strange, beautiful circle, isn't it? The way love and care ripple outward, passed from one person to the next.

We must move away from rigid ideas of what a father is supposed to be. Life is too messy for that.

Families don't always follow the traditional blueprint, and that's okay. 

What matters is love, support, and the kind of unwavering presence that makes someone feel safe and valued.

So this Father's Day, I'll raise a toast to my dad and the many "dads" I've had along the way—the ones who stepped in, stepped up and stood by me—the ones who didn't need a title to make a difference.

This year, aim to regret nothing especially the passing up of this recognised chance to show appreciation. We hope you'll find one way to do that, by considering one of our T-shirts for yourself, your father if that's appropriate or for someone who could benefit from such a gesture. 

We put much effort into making each one unique and attractive. The key thing is to find the best way to express yourself.

To help you express your sentiments, we have created a collection of Father's Day Tee-shirts with slogans to help you feel the way we feel about our fathers. "Dad, The Myth, The Legend" is one classic.

So is "Dad to the Bone". "Dadicated to Greatness", speaks for itself , as does "Dad, the Laugh Father", giving a nod to the well-known "GodFather" movies. for more ideas, why not check out our Father's Day Collection?

Maybe you've got someone like that in your life, too. Is now the best time to call them (best), write that letter, or say, "Thank you. You've been like a father to me."?

You bet! There's hardly ever a better time than today, now! Any other time often means, never, and that's an eternal shame.

Because in the end, Father's Day isn't just about biology—it's about bonds. It's about celebrating those who choose to love, guide and protect. And that's something worth honouring every single time.

Matthew