[disclaim]This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. We keep it real at Naturally Glam. #NauticaforDad #CollectiveBias[/disclaim]Growing up with my father in the home, I know many times I took our relationship for granted. Especially when my eyes begin to look at boys in a different way, my dad was no longer The Man. Most of my close friends had their father in the home too, and so it wasn’t until I was well into adulthood that I engaged with women who’s fathers were absent. That’s when I realized how blessed I was to have my father as an anchor in my life, and why father and daughter relationships are special.

Selecting a gift for my dad can be hard. He’s not that into sports, doesn’t play golf, and I wouldn’t dare try to pick out a tie for him – he’s too selective when it comes to his style. I do know he likes to smell good, so I stopped by my local Macy’s store to look for the Nautica Life gift set.

When I first arrived at the store, I wasn’t sure if I should go straight to the Men’s department or head to the cosmetics area. I asked a sales associate, and she kindly directed me to the men’s area of the cosmetics department. This is where I was helped by this handsome sales associate (I didn’t get his name!). He quickly helped me find the Nautica Life gift set, sprayed some on a tester so I could smell it, and we headed over to the register. He was also kind enough to pose for the camera! I promised him I was not crazy – I’m just a blogger, and this type of thing happens all the time 🙂

This gift set is perfect for the man who’s been an anchor in your life. It comes not only with a 3.4oz cologne, but also aftershave balm, shower gel, and a travel size cologne. Valued at $128, you can get this from Macy’s for just $65 AND free shipping if you order it online.

I think about how the good ol’ days were growing up with my dad. My father loves to fish. We used to go fishing all the time with my paternal grand-father, and I’m thankful for the fond memories sitting by the water in the wee hours of the morning with my dad hoping to catch a fish or some crabs. It’s something that they got to share with Mr. Blakes, before my grandfather passed away. I still enjoy fishing and crabbing, even though I don’t get out there as often.

I think of the time I wanted to go see New Edition, and how my dad got us seats right near the stage. We stood in line outside of the Hampton Coliseum for hours, almost got crushed by the mob of screaming fans once the doors opened, and probably damaged our eardrums ever so slightly. Not that my dad was a New Edition fan, but if anyone was going to take me to that concert – it was going to be him. I think of all the late night basketball game watching, no matter how many times my mom would say I didn’t need to be up that late on a school night. Explains why I was up late watching the Warriors win the NBA Finals knowing full well I had to get up and workout in the morning.

I also remember that first time I told my dad I didn’t want to go with him to the high school basketball game, because I wanted to go with my friends. I didn’t think it was a big deal, until my mom told me it really hurt his feelings. Now that my step-daughter is 19 years old, I see her going through that same shift I experienced with my dad. That time where you kinda think you don’t need your dad now that you’re a ‘grown’ woman.

The truth is, if you’ve had a great father or father figure in your life, you don’t – at least not for the day to day thing. And definitely not to talk about ‘woman’ stuff that you talk to your mom about. Fathers – you need them really just to have your back. Because he has already instilled in you all the things you need to be a strong, confidence woman. Not that fathers don’t make mistakes; we all do. But what a daughter needs to hear from her father is the truth about those mistakes and see the efforts to right the wrongs. When she sees that level of honesty and integrity from him, then she will reflect that in her own life and except nothing less from those around her – especially men.

Fathers providing encouragement, being present in their daughter’s lives, and offering a listening ear to their thoughts and feelings raises their daughter’s self esteem. This can have a positive and lasting influence on her self-esteem far into adulthood. So fathers, and daughters, keep those relationships strong because it is so very special.

So tell me, do you feel that father and daughter relationships are special? Why or why not? Who is the anchor in your life? I’d love to read all about it in the comments.

And just for kicks, here’s a video I did with my father last year about my hair!

Now if you really want to do something spectacular for the special father in your life, enter the Nautica for Dad giveaway! 1 Grand Prize Winner will win a $4,000 Cruise Vacation Package, and 5 Second Place Winners will win a Nautica Men’s Fragrance Gift Package. Winners must be 18+. Enter below!

Nautica for Dad