Letter to my dad.
The words you don’t need to say to each other, but that do you good.
With your dad, you often understand each other without saying a word: a look, a pat on the shoulder, an “all right?”. That’s exactly why a letter can take him by surprise. A letter to my dad: a way to say thank you, to tell him what he taught you and how much he means to you, calmly, without the awkwardness. You can write it today and have it arrive on the right day.
Dad, translated
Lots of dads say “I love you” in their own way. A letter is your chance to finally answer him in the same language, but in plain words.
He tells you with gestures. Tell him with words.
How to write a letter to your dad
Five tips for a letter that catches him off guard, in the right way.
- Start from a moment that’s yours. Afternoons colouring on the rug, driving lessons, matches watched together: one scene says more than a thousand adjectives.
- Thank him for something specific. For teaching you to ride a bike, for the lifts at eleven at night, for his patience with your maths homework.
- Tell him what you got from him. The enthusiasm, the stubbornness, the way of doing things carefully.
- It doesn’t have to be serious. A joke only the two of you get will make the letter more his than any carefully crafted line.
- Choose the right day. Father’s Day, his birthday, or an ordinary day when he isn’t expecting it.
Where to begin: 6 opening lines
Pick the line that sounds like you and carry on from there.
Short notes for Dad
Two lines on a card, in a message or at the end of the letter. Here are a few, for every occasion.
For Father’s Day
- “I’ve never met a superhero. But I had you, and that turned out just fine.”
- “Thank you for being my dad. Even when you tell the same jokes.”
For their birthday
- “Happy birthday to the first man who ever made me laugh.”
- “One more year, one more dad joke to put up with. Always worth it.”
To say thank you
- “Thank you for letting me go, and for being there every time I came back.”
- “You taught me how to fall and get back up. I still use the second part every day.”
When you become a parent too
- “Now that I’m a mum, I’m sorry for all those sleepless nights.”
- “Every time I fix a broken toy, I think of you.”
From far away
- “We live in different cities, but your ‘text me when you get there’ goes everywhere with me.”
- “Distance is measured in miles. Love isn’t.”
For an ordinary day
- “No special reason. Just to tell you you’re my favourite dad.”
- “I love you. I know you know, but I wanted to write it down.”
A daughter’s letter to her dad
The best letters to Dad often start from the tiniest memory. Here’s an example, written by a daughter for Father’s Day.
Writing to your mum? You’ll find ideas in the guide Letter to my mother.
Dear Dad,
Do you remember those afternoons colouring on the rug? I always picked the nicest colours and left you the grey. You never complained: you just coloured in the whale, with endless patience.
I always went over the lines, and you’d tell me that was fine, that the best drawings are the slightly wonky ones.
It took me a while to realise you weren’t just talking about drawings. Every time something in my life goes over the lines, I think of what you said, and I feel a little lighter.
Thank you for leaving me the nice colours. And for all the times you took the grey without saying a word.
Your little girl
Not just words
Alongside the letter, you can send him something to make him laugh, or quietly well up.
- A drawing, like back then.Coloured in by you or your children, photographed and added to the letter.
- The grandchildren’s voices.A “Happy birthday, Grandpa” recorded by the children, wobbly words and all.
- A photo from back then and one from today.You on his shoulders, and him with the grandchildren on his shoulders.
- His playlist.The songs he used to play in the car, which you still know by heart.
- A “how-to” video.You doing something he taught you: changing a tyre, making coffee in the old stovetop pot.
- A voucher for a day together.A match, a day out, a pizza: just the two of you.
Make it arrive at the right moment
A letter to Dad can arrive on Father’s Day, on his birthday or when he least expects it. With Erabox, it takes just three steps.
Write or record
Text, voice, video, photos: everything you want to tell him.
Choose who will receive it
Your dad doesn’t need to sign up or download anything: he’ll receive a personal, secure link.
Choose the moment
Father’s Day, his birthday, or a date that matters only to the two of you.
Erabox keeps your words safe on servers in Switzerland and delivers them on exactly the day you chose.
Letter to my dad: frequently asked questions
Can’t find your answer? Write to us via Help.
Other words, for other moments
He tells you with gestures.
Tell him with words.
Write your letter to Dad. He’ll receive it on the day you choose.