A lot of folks grow up without dads. And while they tend to turn out better than, we think those that grow up with awesome dads are pretty lucky. To learn more about what makes a great dad, Ruckus went to the experts: daddy’s girls.

LINDSEY WALSWORTH

nanny, baker and wifelet

Lindsey Walsworth and her daddy

What makes you a daddy’s girl?
For me, being a daddy’s girl is not about being called “princess” (which my dad has never done) or being showered with presents at every turn (which also was not the case). It was more that Dad and I were a team — a funny little duo. Even now, I see things and think, “Dad would love this” or “Oh God, Dad would mock this mercilessly.”

What makes your dad so special?
He seems to have been created to be a girl’s dad. He is a chemist with a penchant for math, physics and history. So, while my childhood was full of imagination and fun, it was also packed with some pretty heavy educational gems. I hit school thinking I could do absolutely anything. I savored every subject and when a boy on the playground told me girls weren’t good at math, I was shocked. I challenged him to a math-off and smoked his ass. Dad taught me to cook, shoot a gun, tie a fisherman’s knot, braid my hair, make silly putty, catch a ball, ride a bike, and use a slingshot. My dad showed me my endless possibility and never once mentioned limitations.

What advice do you have for dads aspiring to be the best daddies to their little girls that they can be?
Just show up. When my dad spent time with me, it wasn’t while doing something else. So, ditch the Blackberry, don’t check your e-mail, Tivo Sportscenter, and just play with your little girl. Teach her how to do something you love, let her teach you something she loves. Listen to her when she talks no matter how long and babbly it gets — it feels good when you’re little to have someone big care about what you have to say.

JEN GOSSETT

“the good daughter”

Jen Gossett and her father

How about that nickname?
“The good daughter” was actually bestowed upon me by my dad, but my sister believes it is her as well. My mom was confused for years, but we always knew that “the good daughter” was whichever one of us happened to call at the time. Anytime one of us is on the phone with my mom and my dad walks in, he’ll ask, “Is it the good daughter?”

What is a tradition you and your dad shared?
Dad got his first boat on Mother’s Day when I was in third grade. We lived in Long Island, and I always had to help Dad wash the boat and go get bait. We had this 80-foot net that we had to take into some hideous, shark-infested water while the other person stayed on the shore. We spent our childhoods dragging this net with him barking at us from the shore — but we loved it! It was all we wanted to do.

What’s your favorite memory of your dad?
Dad used to take the train home when we were little. Mom would get all dressed up and we would wait for him at the station. I’ll never forget the look on his face when he saw her — love.

HOPE COLVIN

wife to Phil and mommy to Kozik

Hope Colvin and her dad

What makes your dad so special?
My dad is not my biological father. He married my mom when I was 7 years old and immediately adopted me. The fact that he chose me to be his daughter is one of the most precious things to me. Also, the three tours that he served in the Army Special Forces during the Vietnam War taught me that no matter how tough or painful something may be, it’s nothing compared to the horrors and heroism he experienced there.

What advice do you have for dads aspiring to be the best daddies to their little girls that they can be?
Be understanding, patient and stern. Be a father first, a friend second. Know that you’re shaping her opinion of what a “good man” is with every action. A daddy’s girl isn’t someone who is spoiled rotten, it’s a woman who respects and loves her daddy unconditionally.

DENISE DOLAN

writer, wife, Mommy, and forever Daddy’s little girl

Denise Dolan and her father

What makes you a daddy’s girl?
My dad and I have always shared a special bond. He was a stay-at-home-daddy after he was laid off from his job when I was a baby, so we had tons of great daddy-daughter time back then. My love for cooking, reading, writing, singing and B-movies come from my dad. And we can just as easily share a great recipe as we can share a cold beer!

What are some traditions or routines you and your dad shared?
I remember going out with my friends until the wee hours of the morning and my dad would still be awake when I got home. We’d sit on our back deck, looking out at the starry night, listening to crickets and frogs, talking about life, love, and whatever boy I happened to have a crush on. Now, we do just about the same thing, looking out at the tall Georgia pines in the back yard, talking about life, love, and laughing about the antics of my little boy, Daniel.