You Tell Us: What Did Dad Teach You?

Cristina Kanu, a student at Howard Community College, remembers some tough love from her father as she was growing up in Los Angeles.

Kanu, now living in Columbia, says her father cured her fear of the deep end of the pool by tossing her in, to literally sink or swim.

"Don't ever have the word 'can't' in your vocabulary," she remembers her father saying.

"So, thank you, Dad, for teaching me that I'm the only one who sets my limitations," Kanu said.

Tim Belton, of Columbia, has been answering to "Dad" for 19 years. He remembers going to amusement parks and baseball games with his father, and he tries give similar memories to his own children.

"I have fond memories from when I was a young man and young boy, so I want my kids to have the same kind of memories when they grow up."

To Belton, being a good father means building a strong moral fiber in a child and giving them the opportunities to be successful.

"A good father must be able to sacrifice, first of all, to put the child first–teaching the kid values, good morals," Belton said.

Tells us in comments: What lessons has your father taught you? What are the qualities of a great dad?